The National Economic Council (NEC) has refuted claims that the Federal Government printed N60 billion to shore up March allocation to states.
Recall that the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki had earlier alleged the federal government had printed extra cash to meet up with allocations. He said it was financial recklessness on the government’s part.
However, the minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, denied the allegation.
On Thursday, in a virtual NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister said no money was printed for March allocation after receiving reports from both the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The meeting was attended by Governors, FCT Minister as well as the Ministers of Transportation (Rotimi Amaechi); Information and Culture (Lai Mohammed); Aviation (Senator Hadi Sirika) and Water Resources, (Suleiman Adamu).
In the meeting, the Council said they were satisfied with the clarifications by the NGF represented by its Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The NGF also supported the conclusion and NEC affirmed the same as the highest constitutional body tasked with economic affairs in the country, according to the spokesman of Vice President Laolu Akande.
On security concerns in parts of the country, the Council unanimously affirmed the unity of Nigeria and said it would adopt the report of the national town hall meeting on National Unity and Security held recently in Kaduna.
