FG Dismisses Proposed Sale Of Assets As 'A Mere Speculation'
Thu Sep 29, 2016 09:09:am National
3K By sosa hills
The Federal Government has described as "mere "speculations", media reports that it has decided to sell some national assets in order to get the country out of the present recession.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, that despite the pronouncements of some government agencies, "no final decision has been taken on the proposal."
The Senate had on Tuesday passed a resolution rejecting the sale of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant and similar state owned assets, which was first raised by Africa's richest man and business mogul, Aliko Dangote and echoed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Mohammed was also reminded that the recommendation for the sale of the assets was similarly canvassed at a recent cabinet retreat on the economy by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting last week.
The NEC is chaired by the Vice President and its members comprise state governors, the Central Bank Governor, Minister of Finance, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Mohammed countered this, explaining that retreat recommendations and consequent suggestion or endorsement by NEC do not amount to a final decision by the FEC, government's highest decision making organ, which he said had not even discussed it.
He was emphatic that "very soon", government would inform Nigerians on its decision on the issue of assets sale, which some economists, including a former CBN governor, Chukwuma Soludo, have counselled against.
According to Lai Mohammed, "The government is still working on the most comprehensive manner to reflate the economy and the government will make its position known very soon.
"What the government will do is to reflate the economy, everything you have heard so far is just suggestion.
"Until the government makes its position known, all these assets sale, assets leasing or whatever being bandied about are nothing but speculations.
"The government is yet to come out with its position on how to bail out the economy and it will take that position very soon.
"NEC will recommend but it is the Federal Executive Council that will decide and what we decide will be the position of government."
Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who briefed the press alongside Lai Mohamed, further disclosed that the FEC approved three memoranda concerning a new National Water Policy, National Irrigation Policy and draft National Water Resources Bill.
The policies and bill if enacted into law, are expected to consolidate and streamline existing laws on the nation's water resources, and open the way for private sector players to invest in the water sector.
His words: "Nigeria has the potential of 3.4 million hectares of land for irrigation and we have only been able to reach only about 130,000 that has been developed formally and only about 70,000 is being utilised.
"So there is a huge gap and we feel that introducing this policy will help us to work along at federal and at regional level with the states so that we will have all encompassing policy that will help our agriculture agenda for now."
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, that despite the pronouncements of some government agencies, "no final decision has been taken on the proposal."
The Senate had on Tuesday passed a resolution rejecting the sale of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant and similar state owned assets, which was first raised by Africa's richest man and business mogul, Aliko Dangote and echoed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Mohammed was also reminded that the recommendation for the sale of the assets was similarly canvassed at a recent cabinet retreat on the economy by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting last week.
The NEC is chaired by the Vice President and its members comprise state governors, the Central Bank Governor, Minister of Finance, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Mohammed countered this, explaining that retreat recommendations and consequent suggestion or endorsement by NEC do not amount to a final decision by the FEC, government's highest decision making organ, which he said had not even discussed it.
He was emphatic that "very soon", government would inform Nigerians on its decision on the issue of assets sale, which some economists, including a former CBN governor, Chukwuma Soludo, have counselled against.
According to Lai Mohammed, "The government is still working on the most comprehensive manner to reflate the economy and the government will make its position known very soon.
"What the government will do is to reflate the economy, everything you have heard so far is just suggestion.
"Until the government makes its position known, all these assets sale, assets leasing or whatever being bandied about are nothing but speculations.
"The government is yet to come out with its position on how to bail out the economy and it will take that position very soon.
"NEC will recommend but it is the Federal Executive Council that will decide and what we decide will be the position of government."
Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who briefed the press alongside Lai Mohamed, further disclosed that the FEC approved three memoranda concerning a new National Water Policy, National Irrigation Policy and draft National Water Resources Bill.
The policies and bill if enacted into law, are expected to consolidate and streamline existing laws on the nation's water resources, and open the way for private sector players to invest in the water sector.
His words: "Nigeria has the potential of 3.4 million hectares of land for irrigation and we have only been able to reach only about 130,000 that has been developed formally and only about 70,000 is being utilised.
"So there is a huge gap and we feel that introducing this policy will help us to work along at federal and at regional level with the states so that we will have all encompassing policy that will help our agriculture agenda for now."
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