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The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP)
has challenged the federal government to explain its hurriedly shared
$1 billion among the three tiers of government on the eve of the new
year.

The Federal Accounts Allocations Committee had on
December 31 shared the money with the federal government, taking $458.3
million, the 36 state governments $232 million, and the 774 local
government areas taking $179 million. Also, the derivative states will
share $130 million.

In a statement by its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, on
Sunday, the CNPP wondered why the FAAC meeting was “secretly and
hurriedly convened to share the money, regretting that the Excess Crude
Account (ECA), which is the nation’s safety net, had reduced from over
$20 billion as at June 2007 to less than $3 billion today.

“How can President Goodluck Jonathan account for the
hurried sharing of $1 billion to the three tiers of government on the
31st of December 2010? Of what urgent purpose was the $1 billion meant
for? Is it for politicking? Is it New Year bonus? Why was this meeting
on the eve of the New Year of the FAAC convened secretly,” the group of
opposition parties, asked.

The CNPP said it was alarmed because all indices point to less than
altruistic disbursement, adding that “it is highly regrettable to
finger President Goodluck Jonathan whose government is cap in hand on
borrowing binge, to covertly disburse ECA for political gains.”