Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Tuesday urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to account for the shortfall being experienced in the federation account since May.
Aliyu who spoke at the 3rd MBA International Literary Colloquium with the theme: Creativity, Youth and National Development, to mark his 58th birthday, expressed regrets that nobody had been able to say how much was actually accruing to the country from oil daily.
He said the CBN as custodian of all monies accruable to the Federal Government, should say what was responsible for the decrease in the income of the country.
Aliyu said the NNPC had in the last six months returned less the actual income due to be shared between the local, state and Federal Governments.
“We don’t know how much we make but the outside world knows what we sell, and how much we make. Since May, a lot of money has not been paid into the national purse; we should hold the CBN responsible for this,” he said.
Aliyu said the nation should lay more emphasis on agriculture, to generate more money for the country and provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
He said Nigerian youths deserved credible role models and system where older generations must mentor the younger ones.
“We must, however, work towards reliving the period 1960 to 1980 when Nigerian youths had considerable opportunities.
“It is indeed our collective duty to provide compulsory and free education, create jobs, instil moral instructions in our youths.
“We should discourage desperate politicians from engaging youths in thuggery, banditry and terrorism,” he said.
Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, who was a guest at the forum, challenged Nigerian writers to publish books and journals on the serial corruption going on in the country.
Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association, Prof. Atukwei Okai, attended the ceremony.
