NEC dismisses Obaseki’s claim, says no money was printed to augment March allocation

The National Economic Council (NEC) has faulted the claim by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State that the Federal Government printed money to augment allocations to states in March.

NEC made its position known in a statement issued by the spokesman to the Vice President, ‘Laolu Akande, following presentations from the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmad and the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Kayode Fayemi today.

The presentations were made to clarify issues concerning the allegation made by Obaseki, who by virtue of his office is a member of the governors’ forum, that the federal government printed N60 billion in March to support allocation for states.

The governor had insisted that Nigeria is in dire financial straits, despite rebuttals from the ministry of finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Obaseki said those in charge of the fiscal policies of the nation should end monetary rascality and stop playing ostrich.

According to the statement NEC affirmed that “there was no printing of N60 billion or any other amount whatsoever to shore up allocation for the month of March.”

The statement said both Ahmed and Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, informed the council that “the allegation of the printing of money to augment allocation was outrightly(sic) false.”

Akande stressed that the council affirmed that the unity of the country is non-negotiable noting that to address the issues of security and national cohesion it would adopt the report of the national townhall meeting on national unity and security held recently in Kaduna.

He said the council welcomed the outcome of the townhall meeting, while urging states to hold wider consultations across the country and report back to NEC the outcome of the meetings.

The statement added that a national consensus would be reached on the recommendations including the adoption of state police, among other matters.

Present at the NEC meeting headed by Osinbajo were state governors and ministers of FCT, finance, transport, information, aviation, water resources and state for budget and national planning.