Buhari Asks States To Clear Workers’ Outstanding Salaries With Paris Club Debt Refund

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on state governors to use at least 25 per cent of the refunds made to them from excess deductions for external debt service of Nigeria’s Paris Club debt to clear outstanding workers’ entitlements.

A statement by his media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu revealed that the president approved N552.74bn to be paid in batches to all the states, which were entitled to the refund.

They are, however, expected to get 25 per cent of their approved sums in the first instance before this week ends. About 33 states are affected.

Shehu said that the refunds arose from claims by the states that they had been overcharged in deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002.

He said, in a directive through the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the president said the issue of workers’ benefits, particularly salaries and pensions, must not be allowed to continue and should be handled with urgency.

The statement read: “When he assumed office last year, the president declared an emergency on unpaid salaries, following the discovery that 27 out of the 36 states had fallen behind in payments to their workers, in some cases for up to a year.

“Following this, a bailout loan was issued to the states twice, with a first batch of about N300 billion given to them in 2015 in the form of soft loans.

“The administration also got the Debt Management Office to restructure their commercial loans of over N660 billion and extended the life span of the loans.

“Because this did not succeed in pulling many of the states out of distress, the federal government this year gave out a further N90 billion to 22 states as yet another bailout under very stringent conditions.

“President Buhari is of the opinion that the payment of salaries and pensions must be given priority to save both serving and retired workers and their families from distress.”

A recent report by BudgIT showed that of the 36 states in the country, only Lagos, Rivers and Enugu, were capable of meeting their obligation to their workers.

Credit: thisdaylive

INEC Issues Timetable For Outstanding FCT Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has issued a timetable and schedule of activities for outstanding councillorship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) scheduled for Dec. 3.

The notice of the timetable was issued in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, on Thursday in Abuja.

The timetable showed that the conduct of primaries by political parties for the Garki Council Ward election of the Abuja Municipal Area Council ended on Nov. 14.

The commission scheduled Thursday, Nov. 17 as the last day for the submission of nomination form while the publication of the list of nominated candidates is Nov. 21.

It also fixes Nov. 23 as the last day for the submission of names and addresses of party while the last day for campaigns stands at Dec. 1.

Petroleum Marketers To Get Outstanding Payment Next Week– Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has assured petroleum marketers that outstanding payment for products imported would be made next week.

Dr. Kachikwu spoke after a tour of service stations and depots in Lagos on Tuesday.

He was accompanied by the Managing Director of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) officials.

The Minister said there was enough petrol to dispense and wondered why cases of scarcity persisted.

Dr. Kachikwu, however, admitted that there was a shortfall in supply, as a lot of marketers were not bringing in products because they were owed subsidy money.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Aregbesola Promises To Pay Outstanding Wages Before September End

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday assured civil servants that they will be paid their outstanding salary arrears before the end of the month.

?Aregbesola made the disclosure while speaking at the National flag off ceremony for the distribution of FGN/UBEC plastic chairs and tables to all the states in the country, in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

He explained that his administration is committed to the welfare of its workers, and reassured that the eight months salaries owed them will be settled before the end of September.

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