The report was
described as "reckless" in a statement released by Janet Mcdickson,
Head of Communication at the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
It read;
“These reckless
publications would have been wished away for what they evidently are but for
the need to set the records straight and put an end to these mischievous
publications. Therefore, OSSAP-SDGs wishes to categorically state that there is
no N23 billion missing in the office. Indeed, appropriated and released funds
to the office were judiciously utilised in the discharge of its mandate.
“On the transfer of
staff from the office, it is pertinent to state that it is completely the
prerogative and responsibility of the pool ministry or office to redeploy any
of their staff seconded to any Ministry, Department or Agency in line with
extant rules and guidelines. It is therefore misrepresentation of facts for
anyone to interpret this as an attempt to cover-up. It must also be stated that
the National Assembly amazed by the spurious allegations in the reports had
also debunked insinuations that the allocation to OSSAP-SDGs in the 2020 budget
was padded with the sum of N33 billion and absolved both the person of Princess
Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and OSSAP-SDGs of such financial impropriety.
“The Office of the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs is committed to the discharge
of its core mandates, including President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against
corruption, and as such will not bow to pressure and distractions in the
onerous task of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. The
public, therefore, is advised to disregard such publications as they are only
designed to malign the office.”
The House Committee
Chairman on SDGs, Rotimi Agunsoye had also debunked the report. He said;
“The House Committee
on SDGs got records from the OSSAP-SDGs and appropriation committee which shows
the said additional N33 billion was not appropriated for SDGs office among
provisions of the 2020 budget earlier assented by Mr. President.”
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