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 Thursday 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.
By Abdullateef Salau
