Following her statement that Nigeria’s debt was at a sustainable limit, the Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Thursday, advised the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, to ‘rally Nigerians to stem the obvious fiscal slide facing the country’.
Zainab Ahmed had yesterday while fielding questions from Journalists, described Obaseki’s submission on the “printed N60bn”, as sad.
She 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 revenue that is generated and in fact distribution revenue is 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 the 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.”
But reacting to the above statement, Obaseki via his twitter handle opined: “While we do not want to join issues with the @FinMinNigeria , 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.”
1.
While we do not want to join issues with the @FinMinNigeria, we believe it is our duty to offer useful advice for the benefit of our country.
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) April 15, 2021
2.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, @ZShamsuna should rally Nigerians to stem the obvious fiscal slide facing our country.
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) April 15, 2021
3.
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.
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) April 15, 2021
4.
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.
Signed
Godwin Obaseki
Governor, Edo State
April 15, 2021— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) April 15, 2021
