Govs demand 50% balance of Paris Club refund
Meet with Buhari, seek to use funds in their 2018 budgets
By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — Governors of the 36 states of the federation, yesterday, met President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding payment of the 50 per cent balance of Paris Club refund as agreed in 2016.
Governors’ forum delegation meets Pres. Buhari
The governors, who met the President under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also commended the President for his intervention in the payment of salaries in many states through bailout funds, adding that the bailout had remained a great relief, bearing in mind that majority of the nation’s population resides in rural areas of the states.
But Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in a swift reaction, last night, said it was inappropriate and unacceptable for governors to use Paris Club refund as a precondition to pay workers’ salaries, arguing that not many of the governors have complied with earlier agreement to use 50 per cent of previous refund disbursed to them to pay salaries and pensions.
Recall that President Buhari in the first tranche of the refunds, approved the release of N516 billion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
A total of N243. 795 billion was released to the states in the second tranche as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thus alleviating the challenges faced by workers.
It would also be recalled that former chairman of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Engr. Hamman Tukur, had said the President had no powers to give governors any form of bailout without passing through the National Assembly.
But President Buhari, yesterday, expressed concern over the growing complaints and agitations by workers in states over unpaid salaries and allowances, in spite
Buhari, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the plight of workers in the states needed urgent attention as many could barely survive.
He said: “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months?
“I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children.”
The President told the governors that two of the three-pronged focus of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to secure the country and fight corruption, had received some commendable reviews by the people, noting that the challenge in payment of salaries in states had taken a toll on the people.
“God has been merciful in hearing the prayers of his servants, so the rainy season has been good, you can ask Kebbi State governor this, and our enormous food importation bill has gone down,” the President said.
of interventions by the Federal Government.
Meet with Buhari, seek to use funds in their 2018 budgets
By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — Governors of the 36 states of the federation, yesterday, met President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding payment of the 50 per cent balance of Paris Club refund as agreed in 2016.
Governors’ forum delegation meets Pres. Buhari
The governors, who met the President under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also commended the President for his intervention in the payment of salaries in many states through bailout funds, adding that the bailout had remained a great relief, bearing in mind that majority of the nation’s population resides in rural areas of the states.
But Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in a swift reaction, last night, said it was inappropriate and unacceptable for governors to use Paris Club refund as a precondition to pay workers’ salaries, arguing that not many of the governors have complied with earlier agreement to use 50 per cent of previous refund disbursed to them to pay salaries and pensions.
Recall that President Buhari in the first tranche of the refunds, approved the release of N516 billion to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
A total of N243. 795 billion was released to the states in the second tranche as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thus alleviating the challenges faced by workers.
It would also be recalled that former chairman of Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Engr. Hamman Tukur, had said the President had no powers to give governors any form of bailout without passing through the National Assembly.
But President Buhari, yesterday, expressed concern over the growing complaints and agitations by workers in states over unpaid salaries and allowances, in spite
Buhari, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the plight of workers in the states needed urgent attention as many could barely survive.
He said: “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months?
“I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children.”
The President told the governors that two of the three-pronged focus of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to secure the country and fight corruption, had received some commendable reviews by the people, noting that the challenge in payment of salaries in states had taken a toll on the people.
“God has been merciful in hearing the prayers of his servants, so the rainy season has been good, you can ask Kebbi State governor this, and our enormous food importation bill has gone down,” the President said.
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