Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has stood by his claim that states and local governments are being owed about ₦9 trillion in dividends from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, challenging the Presidency to explain how the funds paid into the Federation Account were distributed.
Makinde’s position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in response to the Presidency’s reaction to the governor’s earlier remarks on the alleged withholding of NLNG dividends due to states and local governments.
The governor maintained that the Presidency’s response failed to address the central issue of a reconciliation exercise conducted by a consultant engaged by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), with the support of the Federal Government, to determine outstanding NLNG dividend payments.
According to the statement, the exercise identified a shortfall of about ₦9 trillion owed to states and local governments, adding that the Federal Government had accepted the findings.
Olanrewaju said the report remained in the custody of both the Federal Government and the NGF, expressing confidence that the Presidency would not deny its existence.
He also pointed out that Makinde is the incumbent Vice-Chairman of the NGF, insisting that the governor’s claim was based on verifiable information rather than speculation.
The statement acknowledged the Presidency’s assertion that NLNG had paid $21.5 billion in dividends into the Federation Account since the company began operations, including $3 billion received under the current administration.
However, it faulted the Presidency for failing to explain how the money was shared among the tiers of government.
“Have states and local governments received their shares? How much did they receive, and how were those amounts calculated? What happened to the $3 billion received under this administration?” the statement queried.
Olanrewaju added that Makinde conducted public discourse with decorum and did not make unfounded claims or cite figures without a factual basis.
The governor’s aide said the Oyo State Government remained willing to provide further clarification on the matter, while urging the Presidency to address the substance of the allegations and explain the distribution of NLNG dividend payments.
