•Says $2.1bn allegation latest chapter of political witch-hunt
THE
immediate past Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said she did not spend any money
without authorisation as alleged by some governors.
Media adviser to the former minister, Paul C. Nwabuikwu, described the allegation as false, malicious and totally without foundation.
Nwabuikwu, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, said “no unauthorised expenditure from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was made under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch in the Finance ministry.”
He stated further that the “decisions on such expenditure were discussed at meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) attended by finance commissioners from the 36 states.”
According to him “it is curious that in their desperation to use the esteemed National Economic Council (NEC) for political and personal vendetta, the persons behind these allegations acted as if the constitutionally recognised FAAC, a potent expression of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, does not exist.
“But Nigerians know that collective revenues, allocations and expenditures of the three tiers of government are the concern of the monthly FAAC meetings.
“It is important to acknowledge the efforts of governors who are working hard to overcome the current revenue challenges facing their states without resorting to character assassination and blame games.
“The former minister is ready and willing to respond to legitimate enquiries about issues under her purview as finance minister. But it is clear that this is the latest chapter of a political witch-hunt by elements who are attempting to use the respected NEC for ignoble purposes, having failed abysmally in their previous attempts to tarnish Okonjo-Iweala’s name.”
Nwabuikwu recalled that one of such attempts took place in May, when some of the governors, hiding under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), asked Okonjo-Iweala to explain $20 billion alleged to be missing from the same ECA.
“To clarify the development, the Finance ministry subsequently issued a news release and published an advertorial in national newspapers on May 25, 2015, giving details of what the Federal Government and states received from the ECA in the last four years. It also provided details of the use of the funds for payment of petrol subsidies for the Nigerian public and SURE-P allocations to the three tiers for development purposes,” Nwabuikwu added.
The latest allegations show that these persons are still in the business of throwing up wild, unsubstantiated figures to damage Okonjo-Iweala’s name.
“For instance, within the last few months, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his fellow travellers have asked Okonjo-Iweala to account for ‘missing’ $30 billion, $20 billion and now $2.1 billion. What they don’t seem to understand is that the strategy has lost all credibility, because the falsehood is clear for all to see,” he said.
Media adviser to the former minister, Paul C. Nwabuikwu, described the allegation as false, malicious and totally without foundation.
Nwabuikwu, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, said “no unauthorised expenditure from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was made under Okonjo-Iweala’s watch in the Finance ministry.”
He stated further that the “decisions on such expenditure were discussed at meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) attended by finance commissioners from the 36 states.”
According to him “it is curious that in their desperation to use the esteemed National Economic Council (NEC) for political and personal vendetta, the persons behind these allegations acted as if the constitutionally recognised FAAC, a potent expression of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism, does not exist.
“But Nigerians know that collective revenues, allocations and expenditures of the three tiers of government are the concern of the monthly FAAC meetings.
“It is important to acknowledge the efforts of governors who are working hard to overcome the current revenue challenges facing their states without resorting to character assassination and blame games.
“The former minister is ready and willing to respond to legitimate enquiries about issues under her purview as finance minister. But it is clear that this is the latest chapter of a political witch-hunt by elements who are attempting to use the respected NEC for ignoble purposes, having failed abysmally in their previous attempts to tarnish Okonjo-Iweala’s name.”
Nwabuikwu recalled that one of such attempts took place in May, when some of the governors, hiding under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), asked Okonjo-Iweala to explain $20 billion alleged to be missing from the same ECA.
“To clarify the development, the Finance ministry subsequently issued a news release and published an advertorial in national newspapers on May 25, 2015, giving details of what the Federal Government and states received from the ECA in the last four years. It also provided details of the use of the funds for payment of petrol subsidies for the Nigerian public and SURE-P allocations to the three tiers for development purposes,” Nwabuikwu added.
The latest allegations show that these persons are still in the business of throwing up wild, unsubstantiated figures to damage Okonjo-Iweala’s name.
“For instance, within the last few months, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his fellow travellers have asked Okonjo-Iweala to account for ‘missing’ $30 billion, $20 billion and now $2.1 billion. What they don’t seem to understand is that the strategy has lost all credibility, because the falsehood is clear for all to see,” he said.
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