The federal government has countered Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State’s claim that it printed N50 to N60 billion for states to share in March 2021.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed denied the claim while answering questions from state house correspondents.
Ahmed also defended the government’s borrowings despite the concern expressed by Obaseki by stating that “the country’s debt is still within sustainable limits.” She said what was distributed at the monthly FAAC meetings were generated revenue from government institutions available to the public at the ministry’s website.
The Minister said;
“The issue that was raised by the Edo State Governor for me is very, 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 the borrowing, the Nigerian 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.”