Obaseki replies FG, stands by claim on printing of N60bn

Etim Effiong

The Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki has said he is not determined to join issues with the Federal Government over the claim that the FG printed N60 billion in March to support allocation to states.

The governor had decried the fiscal state of the nation, adding that Nigeria is in financial mess.

Speaking at the Edo state transition committee stakeholders’ engagement over the weekend, he said the Federal Government printed money to bridge FAAC allocation.

He said: “When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share.”

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, stated that Obaseki’s claim was incredibly sad because it was “untrue”.

Reacting to the counter-reaction on Thursday, Obaseki, through his official twitter handle, said: “We believe it is our duty to offer useful advice for the benefit of our country.

“The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, @ZShamsuna 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.”