The Federal Government might not pay the final tranche of the N649.43bn refund until after May 29 when new states’ chief executive officers are sworn in.
A source at the federal ministry of finance, who preferred anonymity, said that “We have done our own job by verifying how much would be paid to the states government as the final tranche.
“But you know that the administration is winding down in two weeks and from what we are hearing, the cabinet may be dissolved next week.
“So there is no possibility that the money will be released before the dissolution of the cabinet.
“Secondly, there will also be a change of government in many of the states. So, you don’t expect that such huge sums of money would be released by the Federal Government to state governments at this time when there are so many uncertainties.
“From the look of things, the release of the fund may be done when the new administration settles down after the formation of a new cabinet.”
The Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Ella, however said he had no information on when the amount would be released.
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