₦airaland Forum

AfricanGod2:
“Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a heroine not just of Nigeria, but of the entire continent. Her crusade against corruption has put her life at risk.” — The Independent (UK)

People become renowned for things other than scholarly articles, and someone who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard has no business being mentioned in a discussion about her professional credibility.




Let me refresh your memory regarding the constitutional "responsibilities" of Dr Okonjo Iweala.

The Federal Executive Council

According to the constitution.
"The Cabinet of Nigeria is the Executive Branch of the Government of Nigeria. The Cabinet members are appointed by the President and report to the President. The Cabinet oversees 19 Federal Ministries, each responsible for some aspect of providing government services, as well as a number of parastatals (government-owned corporations)."

Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is a member of the FEC and so is not answerable to Adams Oshiomle or any other governor, and as a member of the FEC she is not expected to prepare or give slide presentations to any governors.

She is also a member of the NEC, however the NEC is not a body she is mandated to attend by the Constitution. It is more or less an advisory body and a means to foster communication between the states and the federal government, but this is what things have been like since 2014:

"The National Economic Council is one of the federal executive councils designed to serve as a clearing house for economic issues between the states and the federal government. Even as strategic as this body is, of recent, it's been submerged in politics, as its monthly meeting has not held since August 2013 following the division of the Nigeria Governors' Forum.
How do we rescue this body from the quagmire of politics in view of its importance.
Join us at 1pm on Focus Nigeria." - AIT

Now tell me why a lady with so little time will waste it on preparing "slides" and "lessons" for a council of members that won't even attend meetings.

Finally, you mentioned something about state governors asking for their state's money and mentioned that Okonjo is not superior to governors.
I just want to say that I agree she should give an account of the handling of Nigeria's finances, but constitutionally she has no responsibility to give this account to governors. Moreover governor's, who supposedly have superior authority to the finance minister are too subject to the minister's decisions to be really considered superior.
The fact is that until governors can't do without relying on the hard work of the federal government vis-à-vis revenue from federal agencies then they should shut the hell up and stop complaining. So far it's only the likes of Oshiomle and Amaechi who can't pay salaries that are complaining.

Bros please eh... So that I don't misunderstand you, kindly state what's your point on this issue. Thanks.

seunmsg:
You are just a very ignorant soul who knows nothing about the running of the nations finances. The federation account, ECA and SWF does not belong to the federal government as you people always ignorantly assert. It belongs jointly to the three tiers of government. State and local governments don't beg the federal government like paupers as you claim. They simply go to take their constitutional share of the nations wealth the same way federal government also takes her share.

The minister of finance manages and run those accounts in trust for the federating units. If she mismanaged it, the governors can legitimately hold her accountable for the mismanagement.

Her managing it is even unconstitutional,She is not even constitutionally listed to be at the National Economic Council ,rather the CBN governor is and should be the one making these payments.The distortion here is part of the PDP magic since it is more difficult to control the CBN governor. If things were working as they should Obasanjo would never have been able to withhold Lagos State money

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SL)....that is a man that was bold enough to talk bitter truth to power.
But the foolish Nigerians lined up behind ethnic sentiments and called him names. He was sacked.

But SLS told them to their face....you can suspend/sack a man, but you cannot suspend the truth!

GEJ virtually killed his government by surrounding himself with highly incompetent and corrupt officials....the 3 people that eventually ruined his govt were, unfortunately, daughters of Eve....Patience, Dieziani and Okonjo-Iweala

Nobody asked question why this woman was removed as finance minister by OBJ and sent to foreign affairs before she resigned.

mikeapollo:
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SL)....that is a man that was bold enough to talk bitter truth to power.
But the foolish Nigerians lined up behind ethnic sentiments and called him names. He was sacked.

But SLS told them to their face....you can suspend/sack a man, but you cannot suspend the truth!

GEJ virtually killed his government by surrounding himself with highly incompetent and corrupt officials....the 3 people that eventually ruined his govt were, unfortunately, daughters of Eve....Patience, Dieziani and Okonjo-Iweala

You mean the 3 - witches !

AfricanGod2:
I think we're getting to the same page here. Like I said, she should be held accountable but governors should not expect her to give accounts to them. All this nonsense is simply a way to distract people from their glaring failures as governors.

Governors, are absolute failures in administration and accountability. But, as opposed to you, it's NOI's latest stunts at activism that I see as an effort at deflecting a probe on her failures and improbity. When she released her ECA disbursement records and told us that Sure-P, Subsidy payments as well as equity out-flows were drawn by the 3 tiers of govt on same account, I know many were fooled and sufficiently deceived into demanding accounts from their governors. From Oshiomhole's article, it's clear madam is very far from making full disclosures: accruals are not accounted for; some withdrawals amount to duplication e.g subsidy and sure-p payments; balance is far from accurate; crude oil theft is official! It is my hope that one day, soon enough, these administrators would be brought back to render proper account so we can get restitution for the damage their plunder has caused our country.

I have always known Okonji- Iweala's activities as regards the economy to be fraudulent. I have never liked her a bit; even if she is the one who restructured America's economy (madam know all). Someone once called me an achievement bigot (whatever that means). That am beefing the Finance Minister's achievement.

She has always been the brain behind all the debts Nigeria has accrued today. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 states that the Nigerian expenditure budget should not be more than its Revenue budget to avoid budget deficit. It further further states that if at all it must borrow funds to finance the budget; such fund should be used for developmental projects.

Reverse has been the case, as the Nigerian government under the supervision of GEJ and Iweala; has resort to borrowing and borrowing just for them to loot and mismanage.

Thanks to Okonji-Iweala. Paris club can not intercede on this one.

How much did Oshiomole receive from the ECA, Sure-P and others, how did he utilize these money to the benefit of Edo State economy? Why did Aisha Buhari need to remind us that Edo women are still migrating in their numbers to Italy purveying flesh? Shouldn't Oshimole be explaining how money he received from FG was utilized to impact in the life of citizens of his state?

Isn't that what Okonjo Iweala meant when she published the allocations each state go from the ECA and others? Why blame the Minister when you failed as governor to effectively utilize the money the Minister allocated to his state?

This is a well thought-out presentation.
But I think he should have out earlier than now on the issues raised so that his actions would not tend to substantiate Jonathan's fears ofpolitical persution of himself and cabinet member.
On a lighter note, the grammatical flavour of the piece tends to indicate that closeness to Patrick Ogodomigo is actually rubbing off on the Comrade Governor.

This is a well thought-out presentation.
But I think he should have out earlier than now on the issues raised so that his actions would not tend to substantiate Jonathan's fears ofpolitical persution of himself and cabinet member.
On a lighter note, the grammatical flavour of the piece tends to indicate that closeness to Patrick Ogodomigo is actually rubbing off on the Comrade Governor

Now, one will appreciate El-Rufai's description of NOI and her activities in the "Accidental Public Servant". He knows her inside out.

Ironically, Soludo warned o! But, as usual, everything is always seen as 'politics'

Just wondering, if and only if GEJ is bit more 'literate' (figure-wise), a little bit more sincere, and a little bit more with some spine......Nigerians ought to be rejoicing at their citizenship now.

omonnakoda:
What exactly is the source of her renown as an economist.Can you mention one publication that justifies such high praise.I am not aware of any scholars referencing her as a scholar in any reputable journals. She was an administrator at the World Bank not an "economist" .
The source of her "power" was her position not her person. Her position as Finance Minister. A power she has used destructively over the last 4 years like an out of control wild forest fire.

She works for Nigerians and part of her role as finance minister is to attend the NEC. She is accountable to the NEC

I do not understand what you mean by "stoop" ,A pilot in a plane has a responsibility to tell all passengers why the plane is vibrating or losing altitude .It is called responsibility. Her position is one of public service ,she is a public servant and some of her duties are statutory,they are mandated by law and do not amount to doing anyone a favour.In fact failure to perform statutory functions is criminal.
What is troubling is that citizens still reason in such a subservient way. She is not an elected official but a mere appointee and is not in any way superior to an elected governor who is asking for an account of his state's money that she has responsibility for transferring to him

pls my brother you are so fully on point... that ediot you are trying to educate is a salient fool..he (@africangod2) is one of the reasons why criminals like okonjo iweala would wanna fester, but seriously it has all ended..the hour is here..when the rotten furniture is removed by tomorrow a lot of maggots from hence would be exposed and expected to be adequately dealt with...this prats are such ediots to this economy and state. and the country has tolerated so much under their idiotic watch..pls ignore that prat u are responding to, he cant be any more reasonable, he has subjected is reasoning to fraud and deliberate deceit. maybe out of ignorance or mere stewpidity.. such people annoy me pls.. and it pains me when they want to make a joke of things pertinent, you have talked about..... educate him more if he needs to know..i would take care of his dealing.... prats.

[quote author=helpee post=34161888][/quote] and this ur comment is helpful in what way?

PointB:
How much did Oshiomole receive from the ECA, Sure-P and others, how did he utilize these money to the benefit of Edo State economy? Why did Aisha Buhari need to remind us that Edo women are still migrating in their numbers to Italy purveying flesh? Shouldn't Oshimole be explaining how money he received from FG was utilized to impact in the life of citizens of his state?

Isn't that what Okonjo Iweala meant when she published the allocations each state go from the ECA and others? Why blame the Minister when you failed as governor to effectively utilize the money the Minister allocated to his state?

Failed as Governor? Pls justify ur statement

firefox4th:
Nobody asked question why this woman was removed as finance minister by OBJ and sent to foreign affairs before she resigned.

Thank U sir.... on point... U sure know history

The implication of this reckless borrowing on the part of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is that the future of workers’ savings in the form of pensions is clearly at stake. It means that there is no guarantee that workers and pensioners will have value for their hard-earned savings in the future. In the first place, she has effectively withdrawn the entire savings of workers meant for pensions through issuance of bonds to fund payment of workers’ salaries and other wasteful spending. Secondly, excessive borrowing has devalued the Naira. At the time Dr. Ngozi assumed duty, the exchange rate was within the region of N100-N116 to one dollar, now it has been officially devalued to about N200 to one dollar. This has done incalculable damage to the value of savings of the pensioners, and when inflation is factored in, it is clear that by the time the Nigerian pensioner accesses his savings, the value will have been drastically reduced, no thanks to the gross mismanagement of the Nigerian economy by the Minister of Finance

.

PointB:
How much did Oshiomole receive from the ECA, Sure-P and others, how did he utilize these money to the benefit of Edo State economy? Why did Aisha Buhari need to remind us that Edo women are still migrating in their numbers to Italy purveying flesh? Shouldn't Oshimole be explaining how money he received from FG was utilized to impact in the life of citizens of his state?

Isn't that what Okonjo Iweala meant when she published the allocations each state go from the ECA and others? Why blame the Minister when you failed as governor to effectively utilize the money the Minister allocated to his state?

Just stop being ridiculous

Even if you can't comprehend what Oshimole wrote, you should at least stop all these emotional outburst like. The governor responsibility to step into families problem

The fact that she fool you about the figures she gave does not mean everyone is like you.

The issue is about the ECA and she rolled out figures of all the allocation made to the three tiers of government. What's the correlation?

demandtruth:
Just stop being ridiculous

Even if you can't comprehend what Oshimole wrote, you should at least stop all these emotional outburst like. The governor responsibility to step into families problem

The fact that she fool you about the figures she gave does not mean everyone is like you.

The issue is about the ECA and she rolled out figures of all the allocation made to the three tiers of government. What's the correlation?

That is what happens when people abandon their shops and gatecrash intellectual discussions which they are unequipped for

shenisaac:
Bros please eh... So that I don't misunderstand you, kindly state what's your point on this issue. Thanks.

My point is that Oshiomole's letter is simply slander and politics. It has valid points here and there but the more I read the more it seemed like Oshiomole feels Okonjo Iweala is responsible for everything in Nigeria, from prevention of oil theft to controlling the exchange rate and safe guarding pensioners. She is not. Oshiomole is playing this blame game now knowing fully well that his state is going to experience a cash crunch like every other state in Nigeria, and his people may be affected, and they may blame him for it. When that time comes he wants to be able to say that he told you so, he told you Okonjo was mismanaging our resources but you didn't listen. Absolute politics.

A real governor should worry about the future of his state. If he knows an individual is at at fault and he has evidence of wrong doing he should quietly take it up with the EFCC for them to worry about, then continue with his state's business. Basically, if this were not mere politics the heading should be something like:

-Financial corruption: Oshiomole and EFCC expose ECA and SWF mismanagement.
-Okonjo Iweala indicted for financial mismanagement.

until then it's all politics and Nigerians keep falling for it.

.

phlemzy:
Even Mama Peace knows that there's no way her husband wouldn't have his share of the probes to come,as the 'Prispal' of the looters league
A summarises version will not help. Kindly read it all. Then you will shake your head for this country. I will feel so pained if these criminals are not made to refund all that they've wrongly stolen from government coffers. All the petty thieves in the prison deserve to be freed. These people must be made as scapegoats after a court of law must have given its Verdict on their criminal personalities.

There is nothing in this write up. Those that havent read it is far better than those that just read it. Ngozi remains the greatest woman in Nigeria, 2nd in africa and among the first 40 greatest man or woman in the world. Hate her and love her, she has done best in protecting Nigeria from total collapse. If you guys have allowed her to remove subsidy in 2011, all this wouldnt have showed up. Russian ecomomy crashed recently. Nigeria economy is still rated realthy and other indices as still strong despite all shouting. Ask Oshimhole what he has done with the money received so far. Shame on a governor who only boast that he has pay off the salary. We task the federal government so much without making effort to know the extent of corruption going on in the state/zone. Ngozi is a highly respected woman worldwide with a responsible husband who is a professor of medicines in the US. All her children, most who graduated before 20 are excelling in their fields. You dont value her but Yale do. Next is Havard and cambridge. Nobody will ever arrest her for she has not done anything to warrant that. All this noise about arrest is just another scam. The new govt of Buhari should bend down and solve the problem of this nation than to raise alarm. They promised us that they are capable and nigerians voted for them. It is time to work from 29th. Ok

AfricanGod2:
First of all, thank you for summarizing.
Second of all if what you've written is correct then you're being unreasonable.

third: Okonjo is a world renowned economist, she is the 48 most powerful woman in the world according to Times and she has immensely more credibility in her profession than the governor calling her a paper economist. In fact the Oshiomle is the quack between the two of them.

Fourth: All this stuff about attending meetings with governors and giving governors slide presentations is so absurd I can't believe someone who claims to be a governor is not ashamed to mention them.
Okonjo works for the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. She does not work for ANY governor and is NOT ANSWERABLE to ANY governor. The man, and any other governor that expected her to stoop to a level less than that of a commissioner for them is silly, lazy, incompetent and does not deserve the title governor. He should go hire a competent commissioner of finance and face the business of govenoring his state.

Only in Nigeria do state "governors" go to the federal government begging like paupers. Only in Nigeria do the finances of states depend so much on the performance of the federal minister of finance. And ONLY in Nigeria do state governors complain like babies when the said minister does not have time for them.

u like querrel oo, i am not sure u read and understand, read again before u reply me.

FastShipping:
I read everything from top to bottom. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala must be held responsible for the gross misconduct in the handling of our economy. She is just an economist on paper. She is grossly incompetent and corrupt. A situation where a minister of finance could not attend important meetings with the governors or giving the governors oral presentation on the state of the economy is a sign of incompetence and corruption. She has never presented the governors with facts written in black and white. From what Oshiomohle wrote, Okonjo Iweala has been avoiding the governors because she has been found wanting. Okonjo Iweala has been giving out waivers after waivers to importers. She has been depleting national treasury since the beginning of this administration. Ultimately, she has been spending and borrowing like a drunken sailor.

On the issue of oil theft, Jonathan and his cabals are responsible for that. How can oil theft be going on our waterways while Jonathan pays billions of naira to militants to secure the place?

Okonjo Iweale must be probed, interrogated and jailed for her gross misconduct.

Have you seen her face Why won't she be corrupt! That face wey b like flowing pipe wey sheet block... Greatest thiefites...

demandtruth:
Just stop being ridiculous

Even if you can't comprehend what Oshimole wrote, you should at least stop all these emotional outburst like. The governor responsibility to step into families problem

The fact that she fool you about the figures she gave does not mean everyone is like you.

The issue is about the ECA and she rolled out figures of all the allocation made to the three tiers of government. What's the correlation?

Not been able to spot the correlation clearly show your inability to read between the line! Isn't Oshiomole rant a counter-attack at NOI for publishing figures the Governors were allocated from the ECA and such other funds? Has Oshiomole taken his time to explain what he did with the funds he collected? Isn't that what he should explain first before launching his counter-strike, that's if we discount his dodgy eleventh timing?

I didn't know that daughters migrating from home to sell flesh due to economic challenges is classified as "families problem"! Armed robbery, burglary and other allied activities, must indeed be family problems! At least in your bigoted world view!

PointB:
How much did Oshiomole receive from the ECA, Sure-P and others, how did he utilize these money to the benefit of Edo State economy? Why did Aisha Buhari need to remind us that Edo women are still migrating in their numbers to Italy purveying flesh? Shouldn't Oshimole be explaining how money he received from FG was utilized to impact in the life of citizens of his state?

Isn't that what Okonjo Iweala meant when she published the allocations each state go from the ECA and others? Why blame the Minister when you failed as governor to effectively utilize the money the Minister allocated to his state?

haba!defending corruption?i know u can't understand d long essay, in summary,d bal in ECA as of 2012 is $10b,she only share $4b from ECA, d accrual money into ECA should be $30b, swf was use for consultancy fee, upon all this,she stil borrow to pay workers,i hope u wil stil be here,when gej,madueke,pej and she wil be in jail,

Am tired of this woman....seems even the world bank/IMF are using her to ruin this country

AfricanGod2:
First of all, thank you for summarizing.
Second of all if what you've written is correct then you're being unreasonable.

third: Okonjo is a world renowned economist, she is the 48 most powerful woman in the world according to Times and she has immensely more credibility in her profession than the governor calling her a paper economist. In fact the Oshiomle is the quack between the two of them.

Fourth: All this stuff about attending meetings with governors and giving governors slide presentations is so absurd I can't believe someone who claims to be a governor is not ashamed to mention them.
Okonjo works for the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. She does not work for ANY governor and is NOT ANSWERABLE to ANY governor. The man, and any other governor that expects her to stoop to a level less than that of a commissioner for them is silly, lazy, incompetent and does not deserve the title governor. He should go hire a competent commissioner of finance and face the business of govenoring his state.

Only in Nigeria do state "governors" go to the federal government begging like paupers. Only in Nigeria do the finances of states depend so much on the performance of the federal minister of finance. And ONLY in Nigeria do state governors complain like babies when the said minister does not have time for them.

Did you write this trash or your outsourcing agent did without your knowledge? NOI is being accused of making verbal presentations at NEC meetings and you don't see anything wrong with that? Mind you the governors are members of this statutory decision making body and in your wisdom it is too much for the supervisory minister for economy to properly give figures and data on state of public finance........ beyond mismanaging our economy, this government stands accused of creating a large pool of clueless companions among the citizenry.

PointB:
Remove subsidy on fuel, some id/iots said NO, now the grace us with various rants!

Not interested!

I started hearing about fuel subsidy from d IBB regime although there had been fuel price increase as far back as d gowon regime. B4 1985, nigeria was self sufficient in terms refining petroleum products. During IBB era, a new means of making money was devised,removing FUEL SUBSIDY under d guise of SAP. By denying d refineries periodic maintenance, production dropped. This coupled with increasing demand 4 petroleum products, d govt at d time resorted 2 importation 2 augment local production. This obnoxious policy was inherited by successive govts cos of how "lucrative" it was. What our govts have done since then is 2 adjust price of products thru the petroleum products pricing regulatory agency(PPPRA) in d name of DEREGULATION and fuel subsidy removal when in actual fact they are REGULATING. With deregulation, govt hands off fixing d price of petroleum products 4 operators at d same time licenses investors both local and foreign 2 refine and market. With this, products will b available at market price not PPPRA price. By-products especially cooking gas will b in abundance since its a "waste" producers will like 2 cash in on. Just like in telcoms were price of sim crashed from N35,000 2 N100 with I beg, petroleum products will b like pure water. This is how 2 end fuel subsidy fraud.Regulation favours a few and their pockets. Deregulation favours d populace and d economy. GEJ was REGULATING not DEREGULATING.

All officials, especially the state governors (without exception) should account for their stewardship. A lot of the governors are now running their mouths as if they are innocent.

omonnakoda:
What exactly is the source of her renown as an economist.Can you mention one publication that justifies such high praise.I am not aware of any scholars referencing her as a scholar in any reputable journals. She was an administrator at the World Bank not an "economist" .
The source of her "power" was her position not her person. Her position as Finance Minister. A power she has used destructively over the last 4 years like an out of control wild forest fire.

She works for Nigerians and part of her role as finance minister is to attend the NEC. She is accountable to the NEC

I do not understand what you mean by "stoop" ,A pilot in a plane has a responsibility to tell all passengers why the plane is vibrating or losing altitude .It is called responsibility. Her position is one of public service ,she is a public servant and some of her duties are statutory,they are mandated by law and do not amount to doing anyone a favour.In fact failure to perform statutory functions is criminal.
What is troubling is that citizens still reason in such a subservient way. She is not an elected official but a mere appointee and is not in any way superior to an elected governor who is asking for an account of his state's money that she has responsibility for transferring to him

Nice and on point

Gracealone:
This is a well thought-out presentation.
But I think he should have out earlier than now on the issues raised so that his actions would not tend to substantiate Jonathan's fears ofpolitical persution of himself and cabinet member.
On a lighter note, the grammatical flavour of the piece tends to indicate that closeness to Patrick Ogodomigo is actually rubbing off on the Comrade Governor.

U r d second person who has asked that question "Why Now?" but does Amaechi ring a bell? When he was shouting himself hoarse on ds issue so many in here said he was making noise.
Read from the below the link where the governors were maakin "noise" over this matter.
http://www.informationng.com/tag/excess-crude-account