The Nigerian Governors Forum has resolved to offset the backlog of salaries and pension arrears owed civil servants in the country with the next tranche of payment from the Paris-London Club loan refunds.
The decision was reached on There day night after a meeting hosted by forum’s chairman and governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari at his Maitama Residence in Abuja.
According to a statement from Abdulrazaque Barkindo, NGF’s head of media & public affairs, the governors meeting was in anticipation of the release of the other half of the Paris-London Club refund which has been approved for payment by the Vice-President Professor Yemi Osibanjo.
“We all agreed that a substantial amount from the next tranche of the Paris-London refunds be used in the settlement of workers salary and pension arrears,” Barkindo quoted Governor Yari as saying.
Out of the N522.74bn owed, N388.304 was paid to states last December.
The governors, Barkindo said, are committed to the verification of the input of all the consultants who claim to having worked towards the harmonization of the refunds regarding what is due to which state.
At the moment, there are litigations from more than ten different consultants still agitating for settlement for their roles in the quest to have the refunds made to states.
“In this regard, a committee was set up under the headship of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state with the governors of Bauchi, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Sokoto’s Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Plateau’s Simon Lalong, Bayelsa’s Seriaki Dickson, Rivers’ Nyesom Wike and former Accountant General of the Federation and Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo as members.
“This committee is expected to finally provide a solution to the demands by consultants on the Paris-London Club refunds to states,” he said.
The forum, according to the statement, also resolved to work harmoniously in a manner that would transcend all political affiliations for the governors to speak with one voice on issues of national importance.
A committee made up of the Governors of Imo, Bayelsa, Abia, Ekiti, Kano, Nasarawa and Bauchi was constituted to work for the “reconciliation of the forum and the betterment of the country.”
“We have set up a seven-man committee to look into the development surrounding the unity of the forum and the development of the country. The idea is for governors to be speaking with one voice,” Governor Yari said.
