ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Governors of the 36 states of the federation have resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss a possible Federal Government’s bailout from the financial positions of the states, many of which are now not able to pay workers’ salaries.
Meeting under the aegis of the reunited Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Wednesday, they, however, conceded that even the Federal Government itself was going through financial problems.
The NGF said the states would press for the refund of money spent by them on the implementation of Federal Government projects.
Briefing reporters at the end of the over four hours’ meeting, chairman of the forum and governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari, said many of the states had spent various amounts of money ranging from N10 to N20 billion on such projects.
“We all know that the economy of the country is in bad shape. A numerous number of state governors have executed various projects for the Federal Government.
“Instead of looking for that, let us look for the Federal Government to settle that backlog for us, so that we can be able to move forward.
“Nearly all the states; you can have N10 billion, N20 billion, like Lagos, more than N50 billion spent on federal projects is not yet settled.
“So, if we can get that done, then most of the issues can be resolved in earnest. We are seeing the president next week.
“We discussed that extensively. And we are trying to see that we find a lasting solution. We are seeing the president to sit down with him. As we are [in] bad [debt], the Federal Government is also on the same thing, because some of the agencies were not paid salaries for six months.
“We are going to work in synergy as we meet with the president, so that we can get a lasting solution to this problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state has called for a mechanism to recover stolen money from culprits, saying that no nation could be rich enough to feed the greed of his people.
He also expressed surprise that the nation’s Excess Crude Fund had dropped to $2.5 billion.
Speaking in an interview with reporters after attending the NGF meeting in Abuja, he said government must meet its obligation to the people and “stop the fleecing; stop the stealing and get those who had stolen return the money.”
While responding to a question on why the states were not able to pay workers’ salaries, he said “the issue is not about payment of salary. In Edo State, we are paying. But the issues is not that. Because, even the Bible said the labourer deserves his wage. Nothing justifies the situation in which we find ourselves now.
“A situation where what accrues to the states is less than what is required to pay workers, I think there are a couple of issues. Governors are prepared to assist to plug all loopholes. You don’t need to witch-hunt anybody, just plug the loopholes.
“We shall speak with Mr President, because he also is inheriting huge debt stock and there is no money to do anything. So, he also needs our advice.
“I guess these are issues we need to discuss objectively and see how we get out of it, so that never again shall we get to this problem.”
On FG bailout we stand —APC govs
Sixteen governors of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday night, insisted that they would need a bailout from the party-led Federal Government to most of its states, in order to pay backlog of salaries owed workers and to embark on other developmental projects in their respective states.
The governors arrived at the decision after several closed doors meeting at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, chaired by the Imo state governor, Chief Rochas Okorcha, who is the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum.
Nigerian Tribune recalled that the governors had made similar plea when they paid congratulatory visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja.
The governors also discussed the recent election of principal officers of the National Assembly, which resulted into crisis, threatening the unity of the party.
“We have realised that what we are going through today is as a result of the poor management of our economy in the recent time. The APC government met a near empty treasury. This has become very worrisome, not just for us, but for the entire nation.
“We have some natural challenges in the country because of the drop in oil price and the issue of oil theft. There are other issues like the crude swap. We have the gas revenues which has never reflected before. We have the mismanagement of oil subsidy. Few year ago, we paid about N200 billion. Today, it is about N1.4 trillion. We are worried.
“We also have congratulated the leadership of the National Assembly. We are aware that the process attracted a lot of disagreements here and there. We, the governors of the party, have resolved to embark on a peace process, to make sure that we return as members of one family we have always been,” the communique read.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
