Minister of Finance and co-ordinating Minister of the Nigerian economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has slammed former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, who is currently running an anti-corruption organisation in the country.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, while reacting to Wednesday’s protest march organized by Melaye to the Ministry of Finance where she was accused of making subsidy payments to non-genuine marketers, the Minister described Melaye as “a disreputable former member of the House of Representatives.”
Huhuonline.com learnt that Melaye had promised to make corrupt elements in government uncomfortable.
In her reaction to the attack on her ministry, Okonjo-Iweala accused Mr. Melaye of leading a handful of demonstrators who conducted themselves in an unruly manner to the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“We have it on good authority that Mr. Melaye’s group was sponsored by some of the indicted oil barons who are currently being investigated and prosecuted for subsidy fraud. Their allegation to wrong subsidy payments made by the Ministry is a mere ruse to conceal their true motives.
“It is important to note that the Federal Ministry of Finance does not pay any contractors directly. So this allegation by Mr. Melaye and his group is completely wrong and without foundation.
“Also, whenever its statutory mandate requires that it makes any payments, the Ministry follows strict payment procedures and only pays when there is appropriate documentation from relevant agencies,” the minister said through her Senior Special Assistant, Paul C Nwabuikwu.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stressed that Melaye’s demonstration was ostensibly to call for her resignation despite having knowledge of her efforts at fighting the fraudulent oil barons whose names were published by the Federal Ministry of Finance for various breaches of the subsidy regime.
“Nigerians are, of course, not deceived by the antics of Mr. Melaye who has no known pedigree as a civil society activist or even a reputation for honour or common decency. When asked by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Danladi Kifasi to submit a written statement, Mr Melaye said that they did not come with any. This gives an indication of the level of seriousness of the effort.
“Curiously, Mr. Melaye and his cohorts, in making their frivolous allegations, did not mention the fact that the Federal Ministry of Finance under the leadership of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala took the unprecedented step of publishing the names of 25 companies which were investigated by the Aig-Imoukhuede Committee for various breaches of the subsidy regime.
“They also neglected to say that many of the indicted marketers are currently undergoing interrogation and prosecution. As a direct result of the Ministry’s efforts against corruption in the subsidy regime and tighter procedures, the nation has saved billions of Naira that would otherwise have gone to corrupt marketers.”
She however reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Finance is steadfast in its resolve to fight against corruption and manage the finances of the country in the best interest of Nigerians.
