'Ministers pay billions to get appointment' comment taken out of context – Morka

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has reacted to the viral claim by its own chieftain, Alwan Hassan, that ministers pay billions of naira to be appointed.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television's 'Prime Time' on Wednesday, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, clarified that Hassan's statement on 'ministers paying billions' was not referring to the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Morka said Hassan was speaking in a historical context and not about what is happening under President Tinubu’s government.

According to him, the comment has been taken out of context and misinterpreted by members of the opposition to blackmail the present administration.

The APC image-maker insisted that appointments under the Tinubu administration are based on merit, competence and capacity to deliver, and not on financial inducement.

The clarification comes amid heated reactions on social media after Hassan alleged that ministerial slots are bought with billions of naira.

Morka urged Nigerians to disregard the insinuation that ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet paid money to secure their positions.

"When Alwan Hassan said ministers pay billions to be appointed, he was not speaking about the current administration. It was in a historical context.

"His frame of thought was not talking about the present but the past. As a public commentator, you sometimes generalise without drawing lines," Morka said.

'Ministers pay billions to get appointment' comment taken out of context – Morka