Missing $49.8bn: Amaechi’s NGF wants NASS to probe Jonathan

THE Governor Rotimi Amaechi faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has urged the National Assembly to institute a comprehensive independent forensic probe on the issue of missing $49.8billion as it believes that the money was not paid into the Federation Account.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night, it also accused him of breaching the provision of the constitution by not holding consultations with the states before submitting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the National Assembly.

Similarly, the factional NGF is also angry that Jonathan has failed to convene meetings of statutory institutions including National Economic Council (NEC), the Council of State, the Nigeria Police Council and the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

In a communique signed by Governor Amaechi, the forum noted that the current security challenges facing the nation were not unconnected to the President’s refusal to convene the meetings of the statutory institutions.

The communique said in part: “On the issue of the missing $49.8 billion (N8.5 Trillion) or equivalent of 2 years of the National Budget, there is no evidence that this amount was paid into the Federation Account or duly appropriated.

“We accordingly call on the National Assembly to institute a comprehensive independent forensic audit by an international reputable firm. We fear that the recent decline of state revenues is not unconnected with the financial diversion.

“In clear breach of the provision of Section 11, Part II of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 which requires the Federal Government to hold consultations with states before the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is laid before the National Assembly; consultation with States on the MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper (2014-2016) did not hold.

“The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting where issues of this nature would have been discussed last held four months ago.

“We note with total dismay the recent violent attacks and killings that have taken place in Borno State as well as the attack on the father of the Kano State Governor.

“We also condemn the flagrant violation of the rights of citizens to freely assemble in Rivers State by the Nigerian Police; the excessive use of force against unarmed citizens in the exercise of their fundamental rights and the shooting of Senator Magnus Abe.

culled from The tribune