The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,
Zainab Ahmed, on Wednesday said there was no truth in the claim made by the Edo
State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, that the Central Bank of Nigeria had to print
between N50billion and N60billion for states to share in March at the meeting
of the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
Describing the governor’s claim as very sad, the minister
explained that the money being shared monthly at FAAC is revenue generated.
Recall that Obaseki was last week quoted as raising the
alarm over Nigeria’s financial position which he said made the CBN to print
about N60billion to augment allocation shared by states in March.
“When we got FAAC for March, the Federal Government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share.
“This April, we will go to Abuja and share. By the end of
this year, our total borrowings are going to be within N15-N16 trillion,”
Obaseki had lamented over the weekend.
But while answering questions from State House
correspondents on Wednesday, the minister said Obaseki’s claim was not factual.
She described revenue distribution as a public information that is available to all.
The minister also faulted the governor on the alarm raised
on the country’s borrowings.
She insisted that the nation’s debt profile is still within
sustainable limit.
Ahmed said, “The issue that was raised by the Edo State
Governor, for me, is very sad because it is not a fact.
“What we distribute at FAAC is a revenue that is generated
and in fact, distribution revenue is a 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.”
On the issue of borrowing, the minister added, “Nigeria’s
debt is still within sustainable limit.
“What we need to do as I have said several times is to
improve our revenue to enhance our capacity to service, not only our debt, but
to service the needs of running government on day-to-day basis.
“So, our debt currently at about 23% to GDP is at a very sustainable
level, if you look at all the reports that you see from multilateral
institutions.”
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