By Adesuwa Tsan
365Daily – Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has advised the Federal Government to stop pretending that the economy is in order and take urgent steps to end its ”current monetary rascality” in order to prevent Nigeria’s prevailing economic challenge from degenerating further.
The Governor was addressing the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who had debunked his earlier claims that N60billion had to be printed for states to share because of the country’s lack of finances.
Obaseki had stated while expressing concerns over Nigeria’s dwindling economy: “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 is going to be within N15-N16 trillion. Imagine a family that is just borrowing without any means to pay back and nobody is looking at that, everybody is looking at 2023, everybody is blaming Mr. President as if he is a magician.”
In a statement personally signed by the Governor on Thursday, April 15, 2021, he advised the Federal Government to ”stop playing the Ostrich”.
Saying all will unravel with time, Obaseki continued, ”While we do not want to join issues with the Federal Ministry of Finance, we believe it is our duty to offer useful advice for the benefit of our country.
”The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed 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.”
He, however, did not insist on his earlier claim of printing N60 billion for states to share in the statement.
Good Reportage. But I disagree with the concluding paragraph of which said thusly:” He however didn’t insist on his earlier claim of Printing #60bn for State to share statement”.
Me; What else did you expect him to say?. He has restated the facts in the statement personally signed by him to drive home his point. This, in my opinion is a demonstration of integrity of his office as Governor and a financial expert.