Controversial senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani has roundly condemned the move by the governors of the Northern States to seek a loan from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Saudi Arabia.
The loan negotiation, described by the Senator as “solo moves” was undertaken by the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) chaired by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State who led a delegation of the group on a three day visit to the Islamic country. According to a spokesman for Shettima, the decision to seek the loan from the Islamic bank was part of “seeking critical development partnership” in the wake of dwindling oil revenues.
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In a statement released to the media on Friday, February 12, 2016, Senator Sani, a former activist submitted that the unilateral action of the governors is contrary to the laws of Nigeria that “clearly and unambiguously rests the exclusive right to borrow externally on the federal government”.
“The Debt Management Office act, 2003, section 21 and external borrowing guidelines, 2008-2012, paragraph 2.1 clearly states that ‘Any Government or its agencies can only obtain external loan through the federal government and such loans must be supported by federal government guarantee’. The act is explicitly clear that NO state,local government or federal agency shall, on its own, borrow externally,” he said.
“Governors of the northern states cannot just jet out to Saudi Arabia to solicit or collect loans without following the due process of the law, and the law further states that ‘state governments and their agencies wishing to obtain external loans shall obtain federal government approval in principle from the federal ministry of finance’. This is the provision of paragraph 2:2 (II)of the external borrowing guidelines
“In addition to the above, paragraph 2.2(v) of the same guideline succinctly declares that ‘All external borrowing proposals of the Governments and their agencies for the next fiscal year must be submitted not later than 90 days preceding the year to the minister of finance for incorporation into the public sector external borrowing program for the coming year’.
“Paragraph 2:2(vii) demands that borrowing proposal must be submitted to the federal ministry of finance and the Debt Management Office for consideration. The proposal should include the purpose for which the borrowing is intended and it’s link to the developmental agenda of the Government; cost benefit analysis showing the economic and social benefit to which the intended borrowing is to be applied; cash flow statements of the MDAs, to ascertain their viability and sustainability.
“To borrow from external sources, the Debt Management Office has to ascertain if the borrower has not over-borrowed and the borrowing proposal must be incorporated into the annual budget for federal executive council approval.
“No state or group of states can borrow from external source without approval from the National Assembly and clearance from the federal ministry of justice.
“Whoever led the northern governors to Saudi for loan is ignorant of the relevant provisions of the law or he has chosen to circumvent the law.”
Sani advised the governors to “go back and read the relevant acts”, and he urged the Islamic Development Bank “not to release any of their funds until the due process is followed or else they will be ‘on their own.’”
