President Muhammadu Buhari has
directed his key finance officials to
sit down with representatives of
Nigeria Governors Forum to
determine how much of their
unpaid debts can be released to
them before Christmas.
Responding to pleas by the
governors who came to the State
House on Monday under the
leadership of Abdul-Aziz Yari, the
Chairman of the Forum asking that
the President give a commitment to
pay all outstanding debts owed
them from London and Paris Club
deductions to ease their financial
hardships, President Buhari said he
was not averse to the payments so
long as the treasury can afford it
and the economy will not be
destabilized.
The Governors informed the
President that they wanted his
commitment on this repayment so
that they could factor the money
into their 2018 appropriation plans.
In his reaction, the President said
that the issues affecting the States
were familiar to him.
As such, he remarked, “I will not be
saying much because the
responsible ministers are here:
Finance, Budget and Planning and
the Central Bank of Nigeria. I
request you to appoint your own
team to come and sit down with
them.
“This should be done, not only for
next year’s budget but for this
Christmas. The Minister of Finance,
Budget and Planning and the
Central Bank should sit down with
you in a sub-committee to see how
much can be released before
Christmas.
“For Nigerians without sources
other than their salary, I am
concerned that workers should be
able to pay rent, school fees, buy
drugs and take care of their
families. I am so much concerned
that people should have something
to eat at Christmas.”
Following the presentation by the
Chairman of the Governors Forum,
four other Governors – Nasir El-
Rufai, Kaduna; Ogbeni Ra’uf
Aregbosola, Osun; Udom Gabriel
Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom State and
Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Imo State
took turns to commend the
President for caring for the States
and their workers; for his equal
treatment of the States irrespective
of political party differences and for
approving these refunds to the
States going back to 2015 which
according to them, previous leaders
chose not to give attention to.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the
President,
Media and Publicity
Source: WTN.
directed his key finance officials to
sit down with representatives of
Nigeria Governors Forum to
determine how much of their
unpaid debts can be released to
them before Christmas.
Responding to pleas by the
governors who came to the State
House on Monday under the
leadership of Abdul-Aziz Yari, the
Chairman of the Forum asking that
the President give a commitment to
pay all outstanding debts owed
them from London and Paris Club
deductions to ease their financial
hardships, President Buhari said he
was not averse to the payments so
long as the treasury can afford it
and the economy will not be
destabilized.
The Governors informed the
President that they wanted his
commitment on this repayment so
that they could factor the money
into their 2018 appropriation plans.
In his reaction, the President said
that the issues affecting the States
were familiar to him.
As such, he remarked, “I will not be
saying much because the
responsible ministers are here:
Finance, Budget and Planning and
the Central Bank of Nigeria. I
request you to appoint your own
team to come and sit down with
them.
“This should be done, not only for
next year’s budget but for this
Christmas. The Minister of Finance,
Budget and Planning and the
Central Bank should sit down with
you in a sub-committee to see how
much can be released before
Christmas.
“For Nigerians without sources
other than their salary, I am
concerned that workers should be
able to pay rent, school fees, buy
drugs and take care of their
families. I am so much concerned
that people should have something
to eat at Christmas.”
Following the presentation by the
Chairman of the Governors Forum,
four other Governors – Nasir El-
Rufai, Kaduna; Ogbeni Ra’uf
Aregbosola, Osun; Udom Gabriel
Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom State and
Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Imo State
took turns to commend the
President for caring for the States
and their workers; for his equal
treatment of the States irrespective
of political party differences and for
approving these refunds to the
States going back to 2015 which
according to them, previous leaders
chose not to give attention to.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the
President,
Media and Publicity
Source: WTN.
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