Adeosun denies paying UK PR consultant N800 million per month

The Federal Ministry of Finance has refuted an allegation that it hired a United Kingdom based Public Relations Consultant for a fee of $2 million (N800 million) per month as reported by an online media.

The minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosu, in a statement made available to the Daily Times on Wednesday by the Director of Information, Mr Salisu Na’Inna Dambatta said “This claim is clearly false, malicious and devoid of professionalism as no attempt was made to contact the Minister for input to the story.”

According to the minister, the Public Relations firm, Africa Practice, has been retained by the Federal Government on the approval of the Federal Executive Council to work with the Debt Management Office as part of the Eurobond programme for a three-year period alongside four other firms.

However, neither the minister nor the federal ministry of finance revealed how much is being paid to the UK based Public Relations firm and how the four other firms are being paid.

Also the ministry said that their engagement followed a competitive tender that was advertised and due process was fully followed and was publicly announced earlier this year, but was mute on the terms of engagement and payment.

The statement read: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Finance has been drawn to an inaccurate report by one Simon Ateba of an online publication, the Simon Ateba News, to the effect that the Ministry has hired a United Kingdom-based Public Relations Consultant for US$2 million (N800 million) monthly. ”

“The representative of Africa Practice was in Washington DC in continuation of the Eurobond programme and in support of the country’s outreach with international investors who showed great enthusiasm to do business with Nigeria.”

“However, the false story has not dimmed the successful participation of the Nigerian delegation in the World Bank and IMF Spring meetings, nor questioned the obvious gains made by Nigeria in the course of the meetings as widely reported by correspondents of Nigerian media houses that covered the meetings.”

“The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has always appreciated the contribution of Nigerian journalists, whom she hold in high esteem, for the coverage they gave to the activities of the Nigerian delegation to the Spring Meetings in Washington DC and at home.”