Former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reveals how the Jonathan administration placated lawmakers with N17billion before the 2015 budget could be passed.
Former Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed how the Goodluck Jonathan presidency had to part with the sum of N17billion to lawmakers, in order to have the 2015 budget passed.
Okonjo-Iweala revealed this in her new book titled: ‘Fighting corruption is dangerous, the story behind the headlines’.
According to the former minister, federal lawmakers refused to make the necessary sacrifices at a time of dwindling oil prices.
Okonjo-Iweala says when it was proposed that lawmakers give up some of their benefits, the legislators baulked because elections were fast approachingand money was needed for campaigns.
the N20billion figure by only N3billion to N17billion. This became the price to pay to have the 2015 budget passed”, Okonjo-Iweala wrote.
Nigeria frittered its oil wealth in Okonjo-Iweala’s second coming under Jonathan.
The former minister blames powerful State governors for her country’s inability to save; at a time when the price of oil in the global market hovered above the $100 mark.
Nigeria slipped into a recession a year after Okonjo-Iweala and Jonathan involuntarily left their jobs, thanks in large part to depleted reserves and plunging price of crude oil in the international market.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala first served as Minister of Finance under Obasanjo from July 15, 2003 to June 21, 2006.
She also had a brief spell as Foreign Affairs Minister under Obasanjo from June 21, 2006 to August 30, 2006.