The Federal Ministry of Finance has firmly denied reports suggesting it awarded ₦13 billion worth of contracts without following proper procedures. The ministry issued a statement on Sunday in response to a report by online platform Akelicious, which accused Minister Wale Edun and Permanent Secretary Lydia Shehu Jafiya of sidestepping due process between February and June 2024.
According to the statement signed by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information and Public Relations, the contract scandal allegation is “baseless, unfounded, and malicious,” aimed at damaging the reputation of the minister and undermining the ministry’s reform efforts.
“All contracts awarded during the said period — including those linked to the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) — strictly complied with the Public Procurement Act and other relevant regulations,” the statement read.
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The ministry emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring Nigerians that every contract undergoes proper vetting. It also warned media outlets to verify information before publishing, stating it would take legal action against those spreading false or defamatory claims.
The ministry called on the public to disregard the ₦13 billion contract scandal involving the Federal Ministry of Finance, reaffirming its dedication to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing economic reforms.
The ministry stressed that efforts to derail its work through misinformation will not succeed, and that the contract scandal narrative has no factual basis.
