Sequel to recent allegations, the Federal Government has firmly denied any intention to borrow the N20tn pension fund for infrastructure development.
On Thursday, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reassured the public that the government will strictly adhere to the established rules and regulations governing the pension fund.
During a two-day Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Edun had discussed plans to utilize local funds, including the pension fund, to finance infrastructure projects. However, he emphasized that these plans would be within the legal boundaries set to protect workers' pensions.
In a statement from Abuja, Edun clarified, "It has come to my notice that stories are circulating about the Federal Government's plans to illegally access the hard-earned savings and pension contributions of workers. Nothing could be further from the truth."
He highlighted the stringent regulations that govern the pension industry, similar to other sectors in the financial industry. "The pension industry, like most financial industries, is highly regulated. There are rules and limitations about what pension money can be invested in and what it cannot be invested in," he explained.
Edun stressed that the government has no intention of exceeding these legal boundaries. "The Federal Government has no intention whatsoever to go beyond those limitations and outside those bounds which are there to safeguard the pensions of workers," he assured.
Edun elaborated on the initiative announced to the Federal Executive Council, which involves collaboration with major stakeholders in the long-term saving industry. The goal is to explore how, within existing regulations and laws, these funds can be maximally utilized to drive investment in key growth areas.
Furthermore, Edun made it clear that the government does not intend to increase the risk associated with the pension funds or compromise their security. The commitment remains to protect workers' pensions while exploring ways to foster economic growth through responsible and regulated investment strategies.
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