Presidency Says Funds In Excess Crude Account Intact, Not Included In Bailout Package

SAN FRANCISCO, July 07, (THEWILL)  – The Presidency Tuesday said it has not included funds in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) in the bailout package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for states to pay wages as reported in the media.

A statement by Femi Adesina, the President Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said the bailout funds would be drawn from dividends from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), adding that funds in the ECA estimated to be around $1.7 billion by the Accountant General of the Federation, would remain intact.

“Reports in sections of the media today that funds will be drawn from the Excess Crude Account for the relief package approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for states and local governments, are incorrect.

“For the purpose of greater clarity on the matter, the measures approved by President Buhari to deal with the problem of unpaid public sector salaries in many states are as follows:

“*The sharing of the $2.1 Billion dividend paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG);

“* A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund that will offer financing to the states, ranging from N250 Billion to N300 Billion. This will be a soft loan available to states for the purposes of paying backlog of salaries; and

“*A debt relief program designed by the Debt Management Office which will help states restructure their commercial loans currently put at over N660 Billion, and extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.

“The measures approved by President Buhari definitely do not include drawing down the remaining balance in the Excess Crude Account or the “liquidation” of the account as some media outlets have wrongly reported.

“No such decision has been taken or approved by President Buhari, and last week’s meeting of the National Economic Council clearly concluded that the Excess Crude Account should be left untouched at this time,” the statement said.