By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Debt Management Office (DMO) says the proposed securitization of the N22. 7 trillion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Ways and Means (loan) to the federal government when approved by the National Assembly would be the largest source of the Projected N77 trillion debt stock at the end of this administration.
DMO explained in a statement on Friday, that the debt stock did not represent borrowings under the current administration, having built up from past administrations.
It further explained that the public debt stock was the total sum of debts owed by the federal and state governments, as well as, the Federal Capital Territory.
DMO’s statement reads in full, “At the Public Presentation of the 2023 Appropriation Act by the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Hajia (Dr) Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, CON, one of the participants asked a question on the projected level of debt stock by May 2023 when the tenor of the current administration would come to an end.
“In response to the question, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, DMO explained that using the actual Public Debt Stock of N44 Trillion as at September 30, 2022 as a basis and taking into account a number of on-going activities, the Total Public Debt Stock, that is the External and Domestic Debt of the Federal Government, thirty-six (36) State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory would be about N77 Trillion.
“The DG DMO explained that the Debt that will be added to the Public Debt Data in 2023 include the N1 Trillion Ways and Means Advances to finance the Supplementary Budget which has already been approved by the National Assembly (NASS) and N22.72 Trillion Ways and Advances currently under the consideration by NASS.
“The projected Debt Stock for May 2023 also includes N5.567 Trillion representing about 50% of the New Borrowing of N11.134 Trillion in the 2023 Appropriation Act as well as New Promissory Notes estimated at N1.5 Trillion to be issued to settle arrears of the FGN and judgement debts.
“Also included are estimates for new borrowing by the State Governments and FCT. From these figures, it is clear that the Ways and Means Advances of N22.72 Trillion which represents funds already spent, is the largest source of the increment.
“She added that the securitisation of the Ways and Means Advances will enable the DMO include the debt in the Public Debt Stock thereby improving Debt transparency.”
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed said at the presentation that she and her officials would engage the National Assembly on the Securitization of the N22.7 trillion Central Bank Ways and Means to the federal government.
Debt securitization is the process of packaging debt (s) from a source or number of sources into a single security to be sold to investors.
Presenting details of the federal government 2023 budget in Abuja, yesterday, the minister said that the decision to securitise the debt was to reduce the burden on the federal government position as its interest on the Way & Means could hit N 2 trillion this year, from N1.2 trillion, if nothing was done.
If successfully securitized, rather than the current interest rate of MPR+3percent (19.5%), interest on the Ways & Means would reduce to about 9 percent, she added.
