*Sanusi Disagrees Over Sack As CBN Gov
FORMER President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, September 26, insisted that the the Federal Government did not lose $49.8billion under his watch, as alleged.
In his remarks at the launch of a book, titled, ‘Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World,’ co-authored with other accomplished Nigerians and seasoned technocrats, in Abuja, by the former minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, who served under his administration, Jonathan said while he respected the views of the author, he disagreed with some contributions by the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11.
He stated: “Let me mention that I did not agree completely with some issues raised by one of the contributors, but I don’t intend to join issues, because he is our royal father and he is here.
“The one he raised that he was sacked because he blew a whistle that the Federal Government lost $49.8billion is not quite correct. He was not sacked; he was suspended because the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) queried the expenditure of CBN.
“There were serious infractions that needed to be looked at. That was the reason, but somehow, the time was short. So, before we finished, his tenure elapsed. Probably, he would have been called back.
“On the issue of $49.8billion, till today, I am not convinced that the Federal Government lost $49.8 billion.”
Jonathan said the money was too huge to be missing in a country like Nigeria, where the total budget was less than the alleged missing amount, stating: “That year, our budget was $31.6billion.
“So, for a country that had a budget of $31.6billion to lose about $50billion and salaries were paid, nobody felt anything, the researchers that wrote this book need to do further research.
“More so, our revered royal father came up with the figures, first $49.8billion, later $20billion and later $1 billion. I don’t even know the correct one.
“Immediately that happened, we commissioned Price Water Coopers (PWC) to do a forensic audit. The report came up with was that $1.48billion that they couldn’t provide account for and NNPC should pay that money into the Federation Account.
“They did not say we lost $12billion, $20billion or $49.8billion. Senator Ahmed Makarfi is still alive; he was the chairman, Senate Committee on Finance. Immediately that publication came out, the Senate directed its Finance Committee, headed by Makarfi, to investigate.
“They used external and professional auditors to look into it, they didn’t see either $50billion, $20billion or $12billion.”
The former President, who said he never regretted appointing Usman as a minister, added that he acquitted himself as one of the best planning ministers Nigeria had ever produced, saying: “Indeed, Usman, working with my other ministers associated with the management of the economy, played a pivotal role in shaping our nation’s development agenda.
“His expertise and passion for strategic planning were instrumental in the development of economic development.
“He was also instrumental in driving our transformation initiative. That is why I identify fully with his scholarly efforts, especially his contributions in his book as the lead writer and editor.”
Jonathan, who wrote the Foreword of the book, recommended it to all including policymakers, business leaders, public officials, students and academics.
In his remarks, Sanusi, who also contributed to the book, jokingly greeted Jonathan as his boss who sacked him, but held him in high esteem.
“My boss who sacked me. I was constructively dismissed. I know everybody wants me to respond, but I will not respond. I have respect for my boss,” he said.
Highlight s of the event was the official launch of Shamsudeen Usman Foundation and fundraising for his Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre.
