Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has stated the Presidency “sidestepped” in its reaction to allegations that the Federal Executive didn’t pay N250 billion dividends from the Nigeria Liquefied Herbal Gasoline, NLNG, stressing that it will have to focal point on actual problems.
Makinde had claimed that the Federal Executive was once keeping again N250 billion in NLNG’s dividends intended for states and native governments till after the 2027 common elections.
Talking on the 2027 Finances Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement in Ibadan, Makinde stated a reconciliation procedure supported by way of the Nigeria Governors’ Discussion board, NGF, and the Federal Executive confirmed that states and native governments have been being owed from the NLNG dividends.
However President Bola Tinubu’s Particular Adviser on Knowledge and Technique, Bayo Onanuga, rejected Makinde’s stance, stressing that he by no means made a false declare.
Onanuga stated the volume discussed by way of Makinde didn’t fit the previous dividend bills that NLNG has made into the Federation Account.
Responding, Makinde stated his statements have been well-founded and defined that he by no means used numbers with no need a explanation why to again them up.
In a remark signed by way of his Media Adviser, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor promised to present extra main points and requested the presidency to care for the true factor.
The remark stated: “We’ve learn the Presidency’s respond to Governor Seyi Makinde’s message concerning the Federal Executive no longer giving NLNG dividends to states and native governments.
“The reaction sidestepped the central factor: the Nigeria Governors’ Discussion board (NGF), with the make stronger of the Federal Executive, employed a specialist to get to the bottom of the problem of NLNG dividend bills.
“The workout discovered that there’s a hole of round N9 trillion as a result of the states and native governments. The Federal Executive accredited the findings. The file remains to be being held by way of each the Federal Executive and the NGF.
“We consider the Presidency won’t refuse to recognize its lifestyles. Governor Makinde is the NGF’s incumbent Vice-Chairman. The Presidency stated that NLNG has given $21.5 billion in dividends to the Federation Account because it began, which contains $3 billion that was once gained right through the present management.
“However it did not give an explanation for how the cash was once given out. Have the states and native governments gained their stocks? How much cash did they get, and what was once the method for understanding the ones quantities?
“What took place to the $3 billion that was once gained right through this management? Governor Makinde speaks in a deferential and correct method and does not say issues that are not true or point out numbers with none evidence.
“We’re nonetheless ready to present extra explanations, and we ask the presidency to concentrate on the true factor handy.”