I Won’t Resign, Okonjo-Iweala Tells Amaechi’s NGF

Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala

The coordinating minister for the economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Wednesday dismissed calls for her resignation by members of the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The minister said she would not in any way consider such advice but would rather bother herself with the economy.
Members of the Amaechi faction of the NGF had on Tuesday called on the minister to resign her appointment if she knew she would not be able to adhere strictly with the Appropriation Act 2013.
They had said the non-compliance with the revenue projections of the 2013 Budget was also a direct breach of the provisions of the Appropriation Act, 2013.
The call for the minister’s resignation was part of the resolutions of the NGF faction, which met in Abuja.
But Okonjo-Iweala, while addressing journalists in Abuja on recent developments in the economy, said, as a minister working under President Goodluck Jonathan, she would prefer to ensure that the economy was prudently managed rather than discussing political issues.
At the briefing, the minister was accompanied by the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu; DG, Debt Management Office, Mr. Abraham Nwankwo; and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla.
She said, “I am not here to address those kinds of issues; you know I am Minister of Finance for the country. I am working with President Goodluck Jonathan and I will just do my job.
“This (press briefing) is not to address any issue, all of you know that from time to time I have this kind of press conference and I share with you what is happening in the economy and that is what am doing.
“I am not answering to that (call for her resignation) and as you see me here, do I look any close to resignation? I dey kampe. I don’t want to talk about political issues here.”
She said that in spite of the revenue challenges facing the country, all macro-economic indicators showed that the economy was performing “reasonably well.”
For instance, Okonjo-Iweala said in the agricultural sector, a total of 2.5 million seasonal and full time jobs had been created in nine commodities value chains.
According to her, these are cassava, sorghum, oil palm, cotton, cocoa, dry season rice, raining season rice and maize.
She noted that while production output was increasing, a lot of investments had been made by both local and foreign investors that would also create more jobs.
She said, “The economy is doing reasonably well. It’s not perfect but it’s doing reasonably well. I say this because actual realities on ground are baring this out.
“In agriculture where we are seeing results, we have seen that 2.5 million seasonal and full time jobs have been created.
“The economy should be managed for the good of Nigerians and that’s what we are here. We are not going to get involved in any political things.
“Let’s face fact of the economy. I have given you fact about roads, rail construction, jobs created in agricultural sector, increase in production and what we are doing that you can go and check for yourselves. So let’s focus on facts.”
When asked about the expectations for the 2014 budget, the minister said the country would see a “lean budget” as opposed to the amount contained in the 2013 budget.