N17bn Election Expenses for National Assembly Members in 2015 Budget

My attention has been drawn to media reports from extract of a book - Fighting Corruption is Dangerous - written by former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala where in she stated that in a tough session with National Assembly’s ad-hoc committee on budget (made up of chairs of Finance and Appropriation Committee of both chambers and other leaders of National Assembly), 17 billion Naira was

forced into the budget for election expenses for members of National Assembly. 

As Chairman House Committee on Finance during the period in question, I wish to state as follows: 

I was NEVER part of a meeting where such decision was made. I am not aware of any 17 billion Naira introduced in the 2015 budget for election expenses for members of National Assembly. I did not benefit in any way or form from such a money if at all it ever existed. 

 It is unfair for the former minister of finance to make such grievous allegation in a blanket manner. She should have named those that participated in the said meeting. That will be a higher service to the country and will aid investigation and help establish culpability.

Budget is not rocket science...