Stop discussing leaked fiscal policy documents, presidency urges

By Egena Sunday Ode

The Presidency has urged the public to cease discussions on two leaked fiscal policy documents currently in circulation and receiving wide media attention.
One of the leaked documents is titled Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measure etc) Order 2024, and the other is a 65-page draft document with the title “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP), which contains suggestions on how to improve the Nigerian economy.
The presidency, accordingly, urged the public to disregard the documents as they are not yet approved official documents of the government.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement on Thurday.
He said: “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to two fiscal policy documents in circulation that are being given wide coverage by the mainstream media and social media platforms.
“One of the documents titled Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measure etc) Order 2024 is being shared as if it were an executive order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The other is a 65-page draft document with the title “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP), which contains suggestions on how to improve the Nigerian economy. President Tinubu received a copy of the draft on Tuesday.
“We urge the public and the media to disregard the two documents and cease further discussions on them. None is an approved official document of the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are all policy proposals that are still subject to reviews at the highest level of government. Indeed, one has ‘draft’ clearly written on it.”
Onanuga also quoted the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, to have said: “It is important to understand that policymaking is an iterative process involving multiple drafts and discussions before any document is finalised.
“We assure the public that the official position on the documents will be made available after comprehensive reviews and approvals are completed.”