The Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki on thursday responded to the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed as their financial disagreement lingers with the governor urging her to stop playing the ostrich and face reality of the country’s rising debt profile.
The governor last week said that the Central Bank of Nigeria printed an additional N50billion to N60billion to make up for state allocations but the Finance Minister debunked the claim saying it is “very sad and untrue.”
According to her “What we distribute at FAAC is revenue that is generated and in fact, distribution revenue is public information. We publish revenue generated by FIRS, the Customs, and the NNPC and we distribute at FAAC.
“So, it is not true to say we printed money to distribute at FAAC. It is not true,” she said.
The Finance Minister insisted that the nation’s debt profile is still at sustainable limits and maintained that the nation’s debt profile which currently stands at 23percent of the total GDP is at sustainable levels.
READ aLSO: FG Debunks Obaseki’s Claims On Printing Of N60b For State Allocations
Obaseki on Thursday in a facebook post signed by him maintained that the Minister must take urgent steps to end the current monetary rascality and stop playing to the gallery.
” While we do not want to join issues with the Federal Ministry of Finance, we believe it is our duty to offer useful advice for the benefit of our country.
” The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, should rally Nigerians to stem the obvious fiscal slide facing our country.
” Rather than play the Ostrich, we urge the government to take urgent steps to end the current monetary rascality, so as to prevent the prevailing economic challenge from degenerating further.
“We believe it is imperative to approach the Nigerian project with all sense of responsibility and commitment and not play to the gallery because ultimately, time shall be the judge of us all.” Obaseki wrote.
