Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has mentioned the Presidency “sidestepped” in its response to allegations that the Federal Government didn’t pay N250 billion dividends from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, stressing that it ought to focus on real issues.
Makinde had claimed that the Federal Government was holding again N250 billion in NLNG’s dividends meant for states and native governments till after the 2027 basic elections.
Speaking on the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement in Ibadan, Makinde mentioned a reconciliation course of supported by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and the Federal Government confirmed that states and native governments have been being owed from the NLNG dividends.
But President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, rejected Makinde’s stance, stressing that he by no means made a false claim.
Onanuga mentioned the quantity talked about by Makinde didn’t match the previous dividend funds that NLNG has made into the Federation Account.
Responding, Makinde mentioned his statements have been properly-based and defined that he by no means used numbers with out having a purpose to again them up.
In an announcement signed by his Media Adviser, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor promised to offer extra particulars and requested the presidency to cope with the real problem.
The assertion mentioned: “We have learn the Presidency’s reply to Governor Seyi Makinde’s message concerning the Federal Government not giving NLNG dividends to states and native governments.
“The response sidestepped the central problem: the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), with the assist of the Federal Government, employed a guide to resolve the problem of NLNG dividend funds.
“The train discovered that there’s a hole of round N9 trillion as a result of of the states and native governments. The Federal Government accepted the findings. The report continues to be being held by each the Federal Government and the NGF.
“We imagine the Presidency won’t refuse to acknowledge its existence. Governor Makinde is the NGF’s incumbent Vice-Chairman. The Presidency mentioned that NLNG has given $21.5 billion in dividends to the Federation Account because it began, which incorporates $3 billion that was acquired through the present management.
“But it did not clarify how the cash was given out. Have the states and native governments acquired their shares? How a lot cash did they get, and what was the method for determining these quantities?
“What occurred to the $3 billion that was acquired throughout this administration? Governor Makinde speaks in a respectful and correct method and would not say issues that are not true or point out numbers with none proof.
“We are nonetheless ready to offer extra explanations, and we ask the presidency to focus on the real problem at hand.”
