Ngige denies FG spending N1bn for late Alex Ekwueme's burial rites

- Nigeria's minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, has denied report that the federal government would spend N1 billion on the burial rites of late Alex Ekwueme

- Earlier report had quoted the labour minister as saying the federal government has spent N1 billion on Ekwueme burial

- Ngige said at no time did he attach a figure of N1 billion as the amount spent for Ekwueme’s burial rites

- According to him, he only gave a summary of the number of projects the federal government has taken

Chris Ngige, Nigeria's minister of labour and employment, has denied saying the federal government would spend N1 billion on the burial rites of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, The Guardian reports.

NAIJ.com gathered that a statement by the deputy director, press directorate of the ministry, Samuel Olowookere, in Abuja yesterday claimed the statement was misleading and needless.

He said Ngige did not mention any figure to Ekwueme’s burial rites but that the former vice president deserves “a deserving national tribute to one of Nigeria’s foremost Statesman.”

The minister of labour accepted that he gave a summary of the number of projects the federal government has taken to ensure he was given a decent burial.

He said: “Perhaps the Minister has pre-empted the rhetoric’s of cynics and detractors who could have easily run to town to claim the Federal Government has abandoned Ekwueme in death.

“For the avoidance of doubt, what he did as a member of the Burial Planning Committee was to give the details of the road rehabilitation projects from the Awka end of the state and from Abia and Imo State axis, all leading to Ekwueme’s home town of Oko, as well as the medical services, the Mausoleum and others. But at no time did the minister attach a figure of one billion naira.

“An unedited video and audio tape of the interview as recorded by both broadcast and print reporters is easily within reach."

According to an earlier report by NAIJ.com, the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, said that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to giving former vice president, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a befitting burial.

Punch reports that Ngige spoke on Sunday, January 28, at Ekwueme’s hometown in Oko, Orumba North local government area of Anambra state after inspecting facilities for the burial of the late VP.

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He said Buhari had committed about N1 billion on Ekwueme from the day the federal government took over his medical bills to date.

What must President Buhari do to regain the trust of Nigerians? - on NAIJ.com TV.