Nigeria did not print extra N60bn or any other amount to shore up allocation for the month of March as recently claimed by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.
The National Economic Council made the rebuttal on Thursday while receiving presentations from the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The Edo chief executive had said the Federal Government, last month, printed N60bn to support allocation to states, a claim the finance ministry had faulted.
Also, the governors refuted the claim during the NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja.
The gathering, attended by most governors, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and the CBN governor, also had the finance, transport, information, aviation and water resources ministers, as well as the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning in attendance.
The council expressed satisfaction with the clarifications made by the NGF, represented by the chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed; and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the alleged money printing.
Both the finance minister and the CBN governor told the gathering that the allegation of currency printing to augment allocation was outright falsehood.
The NGF also supported the conclusion and NEC affirmed same as the highest constitutional body tasked with economic affairs in the country, according to the spokesman of the Vice President, Laolu Akande.
