The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), a group of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has refuted a claim that the federal government printed N60 billion as part of federal allocation for March.
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, was quoted as saying at the
Edo transition committee stakeholders engagement last week that Nigeria is in
huge financial trouble.
“When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed
additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share,” he had said.
But the forum, in a statement signed by Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi and chairman of the PGF, on Friday, said Obaseki’s claim did not reflect the true positions of things.
“Not only have we received budget support, bail out support
to meet salary obligations and infrastructure refunds to all states, this was
implemented in the overall public interest without discrimination on the basis
of party affiliation.
“This unfortunate and inaccurate assertion by Governor
Obaseki becomes even more worrisome when juxtaposed with the official statement
released after the meeting of PDP Governors last week, calling for
restructuring and greater devolution of powers to the states.
“It would appear that matters that require the collective
resolve of all leaders are now being turned into purely partisan, point scoring
claims.
“Given the constraints faced by the Nigerian economy, the
Central Bank of Nigeria had responded commendably well while still working hard
on exchange and interest rates.
“We urge the Governor, management and staff not be
distracted.”
The PGF urged state governors to work collaboratively in
tackling the economic challenges present in Nigeria “rather than resort to
cheap and demagogic point scoring in our quest to rescue the economy.”
Also disproving Obaseki’s claim, Godwin Emefiele, governor
of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), explained that the printed N60 billion to
support allocation for states is simply lending by the apex bank.
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