N60b Allocation Top Up Controversy: Obaseki To FG: ‘Stop Playing The Ostrich, Halt Current Monetary Rascality’

Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki has urged the Federal Government to rather than play the Ostrich, take urgent steps to end the current monetary rascality.

BIGPENNGR reports that Obaseki spoke on Thursday following the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning’s counter-reaction to his claim that N60 billion was printed in March to support allocation to states.

Recalls that while speaking at the Edo state transition committee stakeholders engagement over the weekend, the governor had claimed the Federal Government printed money to top up FAAC allocation.

Obaseki had lamented the fiscal state of the nation, stating that Nigeria is in financial trouble.

“When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share,” he had said.

But multiple reports on Wednesday say the Federal Government faulted his claim, dismissing it as untrue.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said Obaseki’s claim was very unfortunate and sad because it was “untrue”.

Reacting to the counter-reaction on Thursday, Obaseki, through his official twitter handle, said: “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.”