Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State has called out the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, for denying that the Federal Government printed N60 billion in March to support allocation to states.
The governor, who accused the Federal Government of “monetary rascality”, also tackled the finance minister for “playing the ostrich”.
Obaseki said this while reacting to the denial by Ahmed that his claim on FG’s printing of N60bn was “untrue”.
On Thursday, Obaseki tweeted, “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.
While answering questions from State House correspondents on Wednesday, the minister had said Obaseki’s claim was not factual.
Ahmed said, “The issue that was raised by the Edo State Governor, for me, is very sad because it is not a fact.
“What we distribute at FAAC is revenue that is generated and in fact, distribution revenue is a piece of 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.”