Our successors have neglected us – Ex-PDP govs

Former governors who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party said on Thursday that they were neglected by their successors.

Tele Ikuru, Deputy Governor, Rivers State

They lamented that their successors relegated them to the background in the affairs of the party in their various states.

They said they were considering forming a forum of former governors and former deputy governors to fight their cause.

The former governors and deputy governors of the PDP spoke in Abuja when they met with the party’s National Chairman, Senator Modu Sheriff, at the party’s national headquarters.

Some of the former governors present were Babangida Mu’azu (Niger), Ramalan Yero (Kebbi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Abdulkadir Kure (Niger), Idris Wada (Kogi), Achike Udenwa (Imo), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Theodore Orji (Abia), and  Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

The former deputy governors present included Iyiola Omisore (Osun) and Etuk Effiong (Akwa Ibom).

It was gathered that former President Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy, Namadi Sambo; and former governors Peter Odili (Rivers), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Donald Duke (Cross River), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and deputy governor Muktar Shagari of Sokoto State were also invited to the meeting, but were absent.

Sheriff had earlier described the former governors and their deputies as stakeholders in the party.

He said, “As a former governor, I know what a governor goes through to win elections. You are the leaders of the party. Incumbent governors are also leaders too.

“Former governors must be carried along. They must be involved in all the affairs of the party so that we can get it right.”

Egwu, who spoke on behalf of former South-East governors and deputies, hailed Sheriff as the first national chairman to recognise former PDP governors and deputy governors.

He said, “This meeting has shown that the party has not forgotten those that started the party. Most of us were in the meeting that marked the beginning of the PDP.

“But the convention in Nigeria is that the moment you are out of office, you are forgotten. Former governors that we helped put in office forgot us. It was like frustration for most of us. But because we believed in the party, we stayed back.”

On his part, a former governor of Ogun State, Daniel, who spoke for the South-West, lamented that the party lost because what ‘we thought were greatest assets were perceived to be the liability’.

A former governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari, who spoke for the North-East, described Sheriff’s emergence as good for the North-East.

Other former governors from other geopolitical zones spoke in support of Sheriff’s leadership and their readiness to remain within the PDP.

Our successors have neglected us – Ex-PDP govs

N18,000 minimum wage: Prepare for war, NLC warns govs

LAGOS — THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday warned that attempts by the governors through the Governors’ Forum to renege on the N18,000 national minimum wage signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2011, was an open declaration of war against the Nigerian workers.

Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Issa Aremu (NLC)

Congress equally told President Muhammadu Buhari to prepare to receive the proposal for the review of the minimum wage as contained in the agreement, noting that the proposal was delayed because the NLC wanted to give the government time to settle down before coming up with the demand.

While insisting that the ability to pay even above the wage was not the problem of the economy, NLC recalled that the 2011 national minimum wage came into existence after almost two years of agitation and eventual negotiation by the tripartite of government (represented by the federal and state governments), the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, representing other employers (in the private sector) and organized Labour.

NLC, in a statement by its factional President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, told the governors to prepare for war and organised labour would have no alternative than to mobilize to respond appropriately to this act of aggression by the political class on workers’ welfare.

The statement read in part: “The Nigeria Labour Congress is shocked by the statement credited to the chairman of the Governors Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, that the N18,000 national minimum wage promulgated into law in 2011 was no longer sustainable because of the fall in the price of crude oil. The governor, who was speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the end of a meeting of the forum, also claimed that the national minimum wage was ‘imposed’.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that this attempt to reverse the national minimum wage is a declaration of war against the working people of this country, and we would have no alternative than to mobilize to respond to this act of aggression by the political class on our welfare.

“For us in the Nigeria Labour Congress, we know as a fact that ability to pay minimum wages is not the problem of the economy. What is the problem for states and other tiers of government is the amount many political office holders and their unproductive aides take away as wages. For the private sector, the greed to accumulate more and more profit is also always a motivating factor to keep wages down.

“Similarly, we have been in the forefront of campaigning that the cost of governance at all levels needs to be drastically cut down, to free enough resources for development. The hundreds of billions of Naira our public office holders continue to filter away in the name of governance is what is not sustainable.

“For instance, the annual cost to the public purse of governors ‘security votes’ which is an unaccountable drain on the public resources, is worth several thousands of minimum wages per state. Secondly, Nigerians who have the means to travel by air would recall that in the last 6-10 years, majority of, if not all our governors, no longer use commercial airline regular flights as a means of transportation from one place to another. They now have ‘official’ aircrafts and helicopters, which they maintain at huge costs to the state treasury.

“Their less ‘fortunate’ counterparts charter aircrafts and helicopters at the cost of millions of Naira to tax payers to attend any manner of functions from marriages to child naming ceremonies.

“States are in the poor financial state they are in largely on the developmental choices they have made; largely on the basis of priorities they have chosen which has nothing to do with the public good. Workers salaries cannot be sacrificed on the altar of challenges of the economy which is not the making of workers. It has never happened in the history of our country, and it will not be said that it is during our leadership of the Nigerian labour movement that this calamity was allowed to happen to Nigerian workers.

“Governors and other political office holders were not elected and/or appointed to only go and share proceeds from crude oil and petroleum products sales monthly in Abuja. Any one putting himself or herself out to serve does so on the assumption that he or she have intellect above the average which would be leveraged to provide good and responsive governance to the rest of the populace.

“In the 60’s when Nigeria did not have oil as the main source of our revenue, our fore bearers raised funds via efficient taxes, agricultural produce and other forms of internally generated revenue to provide development and pay living wages to the workers. Our current crop of leaders, who put themselves up for election to high government positions, must deliver by paying the working masses their due pay. This is not negotiable.

“As early as May 2015, we gave notice that the N18,000 National Minimum Wage was due for review, and that we would be submitting a new proposal once the incoming government settled down. We have been patient and waited for the President Buhari government to appoint ministers and thus have full compliments of officers to run the government.

“With the recent devaluation of the Naira, and the attendant increase in inflation and cost of living, even without the last minimum wage Act reaching the mandatory five years when it is due for review, we would have been justified to request for review.

“Now the five years is here – we are at the end of 2015, and with the cost of living being so high, we will soon table our new minimum wage demand to the federal government. If the recent statement by the Governors Forum is intended to manoeuvre them away from addressing this imperative, then it is bound to fail as we are ready to do battle to raise the living standard of the Nigerian working people.”

N18,000 minimum wage: Prepare for war, NLC warns govs

Minimum Wage: Oshiomhole washes hands off governors" decision

You must pay, he tells his colleagues

Says democracy can’t be run at govs’ comfort

Wabba, Ajaero factions unite to fight workers’ course

Reduce your pay by 50%, Ango Abdullahi tells govs

BY SONI DANIEL & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, disagreed with other governors of the country on the ability of the states to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, saying they must pay.

Governor Oshiomhole

Recalling that the minimum wage was agreed between the Federal Government and the organised labour by the previous administration, Oshiomhole told the governors and other elected political office holders that democracy cannot be run at their comfort and convenience.

Oshiomhole spoke as the leader of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi, blasted governors for claiming that they are broke and can no longer pay workers the minimum wage and as factional presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrades Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero,yesterday, attended the first Central Working Committee ,CWC, meeting organised by labour veterans and stakeholders to resolve the crisis that brought division among labour leaders after its election about six months ago.

Democracy can’t be run at govs, others’ comfort

Speaking at the meeting held at the Labour House, Abuja, Governor Oshiomhole said nobody would question the wisdom behind the payment of minimum wage to workers in the country as it was not imposed on the government, rather it was a product of agreement between government and labour.

His words: “I am a labour man, I have been clear with my colleagues in seeking to find solution to the problem we face. We have to be holistic, we cannot at one hand question the wisdom behind the national minimum wage. I joined the NLC to protest to the National Assembly when they were going to amend the constitution to make the minimum wage a concurrent issue.

“I said workers have a stake in this democracy. They are the ones who could afford to march the streets and they march the streets for democracy. Democracy doesn’t have to run at the comfort or convenience of governors, ministers, and presidents.

“I believe that the issue in the economy hasn’t got to do with minimum wage. I have always also reminded my colleagues that the minimum wage was not imposed, it was negotiated and state governments agreed to it, the president signed it not under duress, there was no strike to compel the then president to sign it, he signed it voluntarily.

“I believe when you look at the minimum wage, as it is today at N18,000, it is less than 100 dollars. I think it is now about eighty dollars. Now, divide eighty dollars by 31 days, you will be getting about two point something dollars.

“Now we cannot argue that workers in Nigeria formal sector should not earn more than two dollars a day, I cannot subscribe to that because the heart of governance is the welfare of the people.”

Economic challenges not enough to reduce workers’ pay

Noting that there were some economic challenges confronting the country, he said it was not enough for governors to start to tamper with an agreement the organised labour entered with government.

“Let me also say that I acknowledge that there are huge issues with the economy, there are huge issues about management capacity and I have been loud about the massive abuse and the looting of our common patrimony. My only complain is that the NLC voice was not loud when it matters, when the looting was going on, there was what I can call a criminal silence by the NLC. When the CBN governor raised the alarm, the NLC would have risen as a partner and I have always warned that the consequences of what the big people would do, will always fall on the small people.

“It is NLC business to interrogate every policy that will have immediate or long time consequences. What we have now is the medium term consequences of the massive looting and the gross mismanagement of our economy at the time when the oil peaked at $108, now at under $50, we are suffering a huge drop of 50 percent of national revenue and with a huge debt profile.

“So, on the one hand, you are looking for huge resources to settle debts incurred even in the midst of plenty and having to grapple with basic needs at the moment when oil prices have crashed. For me even if you abolish wages, it will not automatically translate to solutions.”

Wabba, Ajaero speak, vow to ask for pay raise

Also speaking after the CWC meeting, Comrade Wabba rejected the governors position, saying: ”We reject in its entirety, Nigerian workers will not take it lightly. We are not the problem, rather we are the solution. The problem is that they have not been able to reduce the cost of governance. They should go and reduce their security votes. Let them also cut down on the number of their entourages. They must also be accountable to the citizens that voted them into power. We are going to resist any attempt to tamper with the payment under any guise.

“Let them also note that the N18,000 was not allocated, it was negotiated through a tripartite process and it is a product of law that is even due for review. We are going to champion the review.

“Let us also put them on notice, if attempt is made to reduce, review or do anything outside the legal minimum of N18,000, which cannot even take us home, we are going to resist it. Nigerian workers will be mobilise to resist.”

On his part, Ajaero, who also said that efforts had gone far to resolve the crisis in the union, also noted that the organised labour would not allow the governors to toil with the welfare of workers.

He said that NLC would ensure that the governors comply with the agreement entered into with government even as he acknowledged that with more efforts in the process of resolving the crisis in NLC, they will be able to consummate their discussion.

Apologise to workers, reduce your pay by 50%, Ango Abdullahi tells govs

Backing the workers, Prof Ango Abdullahi asked any of the governors who cannot pay the minimum wage to resign and pave the way for those who can do so in the interest of Nigerian workers.

In a chat with Saturday Vanguard, yesterday, Prof Abdullahi described the governors’ claim as irresponsible, insensitive, embarrassing and unacceptable to Nigerians given the huge amount they and their retinue of aides pocket monthly.

The former Ahmadu Bello University Vice Chancellor noted with displeasure that governors, who were taking billions of Naira monthly under the guise of security votes, which they don’t account for, could wickedly refuse to pay their workers a worthless minimum wage of N18,000 monthly.

He said any governor who does not resign but continues to stay in office while claiming inability to pay the minimum wage should not be taken seriously by the Nigerian workers.

“If certain political appointees of the governors take home at N1 million monthly, how can the same governors not be able to pay as little as N18,000 to each worker who works daily for the state?” he asked.

Abdullahi, who was Obasanjo’s Special Adviser on Food Security, asked the 36 governors to reduce their earnings by 50 percent so as to leave more money available for their states.

Minimum Wage: Oshiomhole washes hands off governors" decision

We can no longer pay N18,000 minimum wage - Nigerian Governors

We’ll shut the economy if they dare – NLC

ABUJA—THE 36 state governors have said that they can no longer pay the N18,000 minimum wage that was signed into law in March 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, owing to the poor state of the economy. Organised labour in its immediate reaction, however, kicked against the governors’ stance, saying workers are ready to shut down the country, if the governors push them into it.

APC Governors

Rising from a crucial meeting that ended at the early hours of yesterday, at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja under the umbrella of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, the governors said that dwindling prices of oil had drastically affected their states’ income.

Specifically, they said that the burden of the wage was lighter when oil sold at $126 as against the current $41 per barrel.

They, therefore, sought audience with President Muhammadu Buhari on the economy, resolving that the only way out of the quagmire was to diversify the economy towards agriculture and mining.

Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari hinted that the Forum also backed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N1.4 trillion sanction  on MTN.

According to him, the governors agreed that the fine must be paid in full.

He explained that they received briefing from the Acting Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Dambata who explained the matter to them.

He said: “We resolved that we must look at ways to enhance revenue generation and at the same time look at ways to cut our overhead costs, especially the political office holders’ salaries and other overhead expenses.

“The situation is no longer the same when we were asked to pay N18,000 minimum wage, when oil price was $126 (per barrel) and  we continued paying N18,000 minimum wage when the oil price is $41, while the source of government expenditure is from oil, and we have not seen prospects in the oil industry in the near future.

We can no longer pay — Govs

“We will diversify our economy in the area of agriculture and mining. But at the same time, we should understand our situation where some of us (states) today are taking N100 million as monthly allocation and then have salaries of over N2 billion to pay.

“We, therefore, agreed here to take this suggestion to NEC in our meeting today (yesterday) so that we can find ways to tackle this problem.

“We are also looking at coming together to have discussions with Mr. President and his team, technocrats and experts in the economy to see how we can tackle this problem. We are working harder to deal with it.

“On the sanction by the NCC, the MTN has accepted that they committed the offence and has apologised, and they are appealing for leniency; we the governors forum decided to support the NCC to abide by the laws of the land and the laws of our land do not not give leniency to deliberate offence to our nation.”

Labour rejects governors’ stance…says we will shut down Nigeria, if…

In their reaction, leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, warned that if the governors wanted workers to shut down the nation because of the issue, workers would gladly do so, saying “the governors should not think the Nigerian workers do not have the capacity to retrench them.”

Factional President of NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, while insisting that Nigerian workers totally reject the governors’ position, warned that if the governors wanted organised labour to close down the country, labour was ready to do so. He confirmed that the NLC would be meeting today on the platform of the Central Working Committee, CWC, and the issue would feature prominently after which a statement would be released.

Wabba said: “We reject it totally. Nigerian workers will never accept it. We all know that it is a reality that N18,000 can no longer take the workers home and cannot sustain any family. Many countries are reviewing their minimum wage upwards to meet the current realities. In Nigeria, there is even greater need to increase the minimum wage because our currency had been devalued; inflation keeps rising among others.

“What is the relation of the Nigerian currency to the Dollar or what is value of the N18,000 to the Dollar? We are going to reject the move with all our might. We are not the cause of the problem. They should think out of the box to find solution to the problem.  When there was excess crude money, the workers did not benefit and so, we cannot bear the brunt. If the governors want us to close down the country, we will do that.

“What about their outrageous salaries, bloated overhead cost, inflated contracts and others?  NLC is meeting tomorrow (today) on the organ of the Central Working Committee, CWC. This issue is going to feature prominently and we are going to come with a strong statement on it.  Obviously we cannot bear the brunt. They governors should think  how to generate revenue instead of depending on oil money and allocation from Abuja.

“The governors should know that the N18,000 minimum wage was not just negotiated, it was a product of a tripartite process involving the governors, employers and organised labour. It passed through the National Assembly before former President Jonathan signed it into law. If any party wants to breach or renege on such agreement, they should be prepared for the consequences.

“We know there are challenges, but the governors should face reality. The problem is the cost of governance and too many frivolities. Today, with crazy bills from electricity providers, increase in fuel price, school fees, hospital bills, and other utilities, N18,000 cannot take any worker to the bus stop. We want to know their salaries as approved by the Revenue and Fiscal Mobilisation Commission, that of their commissioners, advisers and others, their security votes and others.

It’s an empty threat — Ajaero

Similarly, his counterpart,  Mr. Joe Ajaero, dismissed the governors’ resolution as an empty threat. He said most of them were ignorant of the process that brought about the N18,000 minimum wage, warning the governors not to start a battle they could not sustain because Nigerian workers had the capacity to retrench them.

According to him: “Well, because of the falling oil prices, sole administrators should be appointed in the 36 states and Abuja and the office of state governors should be abolished.  The sole administrators should not have one single commissioner or adviser.  They should also not receive any salary or allowance because we are in a belt-tightening period for us to survive.  The governors should know that the process that brought about the N18,000 minimum wage was more democratic than the process that brought most of them to power. They do not have the capacity to abolish the minimum wage. We are even planning to present a new proposal for upward review of the wage because, not only is it due for review, it is also no longer in tune with the socio-economic reality of the time.

“Do not forget that the minimum wage is an act that was passed into law by the National Assembly and signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March, 2011. The day the governors say they can no longer pay the N18,000 minimum wage, that is the day they should vacate office as governors. They should not make the mistake that workers have no capacity to retrench them from office.”

On his part, Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Mr. Musa Lawal, said labour would never accept that and it would be rejected and resisted with all powers available.

According to him, the governors cannot say they can no longer pay the minimum wage.  “If they do, we are going to reject and resist it with whatever it takes. Though we will meet to react appropriately, but we are definitely not accepting it. We are presenting a proposal for upward review of the wage because it is no longer meeting the realities on ground.  We were planning our meeting for next month, I am sure because of this development, we will bring it forward.”

We can no longer pay N18,000 minimum wage - Nigerian Governors

Northern governors begin search for Boko Haram sponsors

Governors of the 19 Northern states on Friday inaugurated a committee to look at the activities of sponsors of Boko Haram with a view to prosecuting them.

The Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, while inaugurating the committee at the Hassan Katsina House in Kaduna, noted that the days of the deadly sect were numbered considering the current bombardment of the insurgents by troops.

Kashim Shettima

He added that with the superior fire power of the troops, the insurgents had been dislodged from their strongholds in the North-East.

He said the committee, which comprised the attorneys-general and commissioners of justice of the 19 Northern states, was given the mandate to review the criminal justice system in the North.

Shettima said the inauguration of the committee became necessary in view of the problems of insurgency, cattle rustling, armed robbery and kidnapping confronting the Northern states.

According to him, the committee has two months to carry out its assignment.

The governor asked the committee to conduct a thorough and meticulous review of the penal code with a view to pointing out its weaknesses and constraints in the overall administration of criminal justice system in the North.

Shettima said, “The committee should also look at the condemnable activities of the sponsors of the insurgency and come up with legally pragmatic, appropriate and proportionate punishment.

“The committee should also focus specifically on parents, who because of some pittance, sacrifice their children as suicide bombers. Such parents must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The committee also has the mandate to carefully analyse the various emergent security challenges confronting the Northern states and determine how best to incorporate them into the penal code for proper and effective administration of justice.”

The governor, however, cautioned the committee against making recommendations that would conflict with the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.

The governor said, “The establishment of this committee is the direct outcome of one of the resolutions of the last meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum held here in Kaduna on September 11, 2015 to the effect that most of the criminal offences currently being perpetrated especially in this part of the country like kidnapping, cattle rustling and inciting religious preaching, inter-alia have either not been adequately covered by the penal code or not at all.

“ Therefore it has become a matter of strategic imperative to review the existing criminal justice system in its entirety in order to ensure that it is up to date and consistent with our current situation.

“The Boko Haram insurgency, which has been raging on for the past six years, is one of the many serious security challenges we are experiencing.

“It has been generally agreed that one of the root causes of the insurgency was inciting preaching by the sect which inevitably stoked the violence and culminated in the extremely complicated and unconventional security situation facing this part of the country and in particular the North-East.”

Northern governors begin search for Boko Haram sponsors

Debtor states, others spend N6bn to maintain private jets

Punch Newspaper – As the cash crunch continues to hit the federal and state governments across the country owing to declining global oil prices, SUNDAY PUNCH has gathered that 11 private jets and helicopters owned by seven state governments are being maintained with about N6bn yearly.

Aregbesola

The jets and helicopters, which are worth N36.54bn going by the current exchange rate, are owned by Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Bauchi, Taraba, Osun and Lagos states.

Rivers, which owed its workers between three and 10 months’ salaries as of June 20, 2015, has two private jets and one helicopter. These are Bombardier Global 5000 acquired for $45m (N8.9bn); Embraer Legacy 600, which goes for about $16m (N3.152bn); and an Augusta Westland helicopter, which goes for about $10m (N1.97bn), according to aircraftcompare.com, an online aviation portal that provides estimated prices of aircraft.

The Taraba State Government owns two Embraer ERJ 145, with each going for $21m (N4.13bn), according to aircraftcompare.com. Thus, the two planes cost about N8.27bn. The state government, however, does not owe its workers.

Nyesom Wike

Akwa Ibom, which as of June 20 had cleared all outstanding workers’ salaries, owns an American-made Gulfstream G450, which according to aircraftcompare.com, costs $38.9m (N7.66bn).

Osun has a French-made Eurocopter ASS 355 helicopter it said was acquired for N500m ($2.538m at the current official exchange rate of N197 to the United States dollar). As of June 20, the state owed its workers seven months’ salaries.

Cross River has a Bombardier Dash 8 that industry experts estimate to worth $10m (N1.97bn). Some of its workers are owed six months salaries, while others have two months’ outstanding.

Bauchi State, which as of June 20 owed two months’ salaries, has one Embraer ERJ 145, which costs $21m (N4.137bn), according to aircraftcompare.com.

Lagos, which is not indebted to its workers, has two Bell 412 helicopters, with each costing $6.7m (N1.319bn), according to aircraftcompare.com estimates. Thus, the two helicopters cost around $13.4m (N2.64bn). They were acquired under the Lagos State Security Trust Fund platform, an initiative of the state government and private partners.

The total cost of the 11 private jets and helicopters is estimated at $198.80m (N39.17bn).

According to airline chief executives and industry experts, airlines spend between 15 and 20 per cent of the cost of an aircraft on its operations yearly. They say that averagely, a little less than one-fifth of the cost of the plane is spent every year on insurance, flight and cabin crew, maintenance, fuelling, catering and other costs.

Going by the fact that at least 15 per cent of the cost is spent annually on running the private jets, it means that not less than $29.82m (N5.875bn) is spent every year as running costs on the jets by the seven state governments.

This is coming just as cash-strapped states seeking the release of President Muhammadu Buhari-approved bailout funds have indicated that they have no plan to sell their private jets and helicopters in order to ameliorate their ravaging economic condition.

Osun and Cross River states, which are currently seeking N34.988bn and N7.856bn respectively in loans from banks through the Federal Government bailout package, said rather than sell their private jets and helicopters, they had put them into commercial use by leasing them to some aviation companies.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Cross River State Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, said, “We have put the aircraft, Bombardier Dash 8, under Aerocontractors Airlines for commercial purposes. We bought it so that it could be used to convey people to the Obudu Ranch.”

The Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Governor’s Office, Osun State, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, did not pick calls or respond to text messages sent to his mobile telephone, but the All Progressive Congress Chairman in the state, Mr. Adegboyega Famodun, had a few months ago said the state government had put the Eurocopter ASS 355 helicopter into commercial use by leasing it to an airline.

He, however, said the state normally recalled it whenever it needed it.

Bauchi State, which is seeking N8.6bn in bailout funds from the Federal Government, could not readily comment on whether it would sell or put for lease its Embraer ERJ 145.

The plane is expected to return back to the country from Morocco any time from now, the state government said two weeks ago.

An official of the state government, Mr. Chad Mohammed, said the new administration was just settling down and that those competent to speak on the matter would get in touch with our correspondent. As of the time of filing this report, they had yet to do so.

However, Lagos, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, which have yet to apply for bailout funds perhaps because they have no need for it, declined to comment on whether their private jets and helicopters would be sold or put into commercial use.

The spokesperson for Governor Akinwumi Ambode, Mr. Habib Aruna, did not pick calls or respond to a text message seeking enquiry on the state’s plan for its two helicopters.

The Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Opunabo Inko-Tariah, said he had not been briefed by the governor on the plans for the jets.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ekerette Udo, and the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, neither picked calls nor responded to text messages sent to their telephones on the state’s Gulsstream 450 aircraft.

The Federal Government bailout for the states, coming as loans from commercial banks, is repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over a 20-year period, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Debtor states, others spend N6bn to maintain private jets

Asset Declaration: We don"t follow Buhari"s example - APC governors

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have said they will not follow the example laid by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in declaring their assets publicly.

The governors, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH, said it is not compulsory for them to declare their assets publicly and that they would not be pressured to follow the president’s action.

APC Governors

According to them, there is no law mandating the governors to publicly state their worth in terms of property and cash.

Buhari and Osinbajo last week made a public declaration of their assets with the former stating that he had declared his assets four times since 1975.

The President had said, “I recall that in 1975 when the late Murtala Mohammed became the Head of State, we were lined up in the corridor – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council – and officials of the Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets.

“So right now, all heads of state and government, governors, ministers, and permanent secretaries will have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement.”

However, one week after Buhari and Osinbajo declared their assets, the APC governors said they were only required to make details of their properties known to the Code of Conduct Bureau and not the public.

The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, told one of our correspondents that it was not his responsibility to publish his assets, but that of the CCB.

While claiming that his assets declaration form is with the CCB, Lalong said that all that the law required was for him to declare his assets before the CCB, adding that the law did not mandate him to make them public.

He said, “I have declared my assets as required by the law and it is left for the Code of Conduct Bureau to publish it. I don’t think that the law makes it mandatory for me to publish my assets. Anybody who wants to know should approach the bureau for the form I filled and submitted to it.”

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, will also not declare his assets publicly. He alleged that those asking him to declare his assets were the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, who were bent on frustrating his administration as a result of the shock the party suffered during the last general elections.

Okorocha said, “I will not rule the people of the state by public opinion. There were no calls for declaration of assets during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”

He advised Nigerians not to use the APC’s “change” promise against the party in whatever way.

Okorocha, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuamado, told one of our correspondents that the declaration of assets by Buhari was a welcome development, but added that it was an individual’s decision.

He said, “This is an individual thing. Governor Okorocha believes he is a second-term governor, he is not a new governor that should be declaring assets. Meanwhile, there is no law that says governors should declare their assets.

“When former President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, who talked about declaration of assets? What President Buhari has done is a good thing, but it is not mandatory.”

Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, also said he would be the last person to make details of his assets public.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Public Affairs,, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said, “My governor has said while it is constitutional for public officers to declare their assets, making it public is not a matter enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

“Every public officer is bound to declare, but the idea of making it public is not in the constitution.”

A Government House source told one of our correspondents that the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, was not ready for public declaration of his assets since he had sent details of his worth both in physical property and cash to the CCB.

The media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, also said, “The constitution does not state that the governor should declare his asset publicly. I know that the governor has declared his assets to the CCB.”

The media aide said, “The governor has met all the necessary constitutional requirements.”

The Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, who spoke on behalf of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, stressed that public declaration of assets is not statutory.

Similarly, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said no law compelled him to declare his assets publicly.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibraheem Dooba, said his boss has declared his assets as the law stipulates and has submitted his assets declaration form to the CCB.

“The governor said he declared his assets before being sworn in and no law compels him to make his assets public.”

Also, the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Mallam Isa Gusau, said the governor had not held any discussion on the public declaration of his assets.

The same is true for the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje.

His Director of Press and Publicity, Baba Dantiye, said in a text message to Saturday PUNCH that the governor had yet to discuss the matter with him.

In Nassarawa State, Governor Tanko Al-makura has remained silent on the issue of public declaration of his assets.

His Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Tukur Ahmed, also refused to speak for the governor on the governor’s asset declaration.”

A similar situation exists in Adamawa State where Senator Jibrilla Bindow holds sway.

The governors’ supporters, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it was not the requirement of the law for anyone to make a public declaration of his assets.

One of them said, “It is a personal decision of the governor to choose to make his assets and liabilities public.

“However, he has complied with the law by filling and submitting his assets declaration forms with the CCB.”

Attempts to speak with the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yohanna Mathias, failed as he neither picked his telephone nor responded to the text messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has also yet to publicly declare his assets.

His Senior Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam, said he was in transit when one of our correspondents asked him when his principal would publicly declare his assets.

It was gathered that the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, would not declare his assets publicly.

“Governor Ajimobi has already made his assets public through the Code of Conduct Bureau before the last general elections,” a government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents on Friday in Ibadan.

The source added, “Ajimobi made his assets known twice – in 2011 and 2015 – before the governorship elections which he contested and won. He did this because he has nothing to hide.”

His Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is also not planning to make his assets public.

A senior government official who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the governor had complied with what the law stipulates. He said, “There is no moral reason for the governor to make his assets public.

“He did not promise to do so during his campaigns. Buhari made it a campaign issue and he has fulfilled his promise.”

A social commentator and policy analyst based in Lagos, Dr. Anthonia Orji, said it was necessary for the governors to follow in the footsteps of President Buhari.

She said it would go a long way in telling Nigerians that their administrations embrace transparency.

She noted that the actions of Buhari and Osinbajo had in some way proved to Nigerians that the duo had no tolerance for corruption.

She said, “Fighting corruption starts with transparency and truthfulness. That is what Buhari and Osinbajo have done. They are telling the world that they have nothing to hide.

“They are not afraid to be questioned and criticised, which are good things for the country to move forward.

Asset Declaration: We don"t follow Buhari"s example - APC governors

Ex-governors, lawmakers to lose diplomatic passports forcefully

42 ex-ministers, ex-lawmakers hold on to official travel documents

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) yesterday asked 21 former governors, 42 ex-ministers, and more than 260 former members of the House of Representatives to return their diplomatic and official passports.

Passport

The NIS said it might be forced to impound the diplomatic and official passports of past public officers defying the directive.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration Service, Mr. M. K. Ibeshi, gave the directive in a statement he personally signed.

It was gathered that the Federal Government was worried that some former ministers, who have cases to answer, had been  junketing abroad with diplomatic immunity.

Although the statement was silent on the actual number of those affected, it was learnt that the list includes 21 former governors, 21 ex-deputy governors,   42 ex-ministers, 233 former members of the House of Representatives, 76 senators and more than 774 former local government chairmen,  among others.

The statement reads: “Further to the directive on the withdrawal of diplomatic and official passports held by unauthorised persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service hereby directs all affected persons to comply forthwith. These persons include, among others, former: (i) State Governors( ii) Senators( iii) Members of House of Representatives

(iv) Members of State Houses of Assemblies; (v) Ministers

(vi) Commissioners, (vii) Special Advisers/Special Assistants; (viii) Chairmen/Deputy Chairmen of Local Governments Areas;  (ix) all retired Heads of parastatals and (x) Retired public servants

“These categories of persons are hereby informed that these passports which were previously held by them have been revoked and should return them to the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters Sauka Abuja, with immediate effect.

“Failure to comply with this directive will amount to an offence under the Immigration Act 2015. Such unauthorised possession will be impounded at our control posts on arrival or departure.

This is the second time in a month that the Federal Government will issue the directive.

The government in August directed the former elective and political office holders to return their diplomatic and official passports.

“The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abubakar Magaji, Federal Ministry of Interior, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports with immediate effect from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents,” the statement said.

“The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to the fact that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these documents,” it said.

According to the statement, the measure is intended to protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of nations in addition to ensuring law and order.

Ex-governors, lawmakers to lose diplomatic passports forcefully

Governors who sleep without paying workers salaries irresponsible - Obiano

Anambra State Governor, Mr. Willie Obiano, on Wednesday described as irresponsible governors who “sleep” without paying the salaries of workers in their state.

Obiano stated this at the Jerome Udoji secretariat,  Awka, the state capital, during the 2015 civil service day celebration, where he reassured the state workers of regular salaries despite the prevailing economic difficulties.

The governor, who described the civil service as the cornerstone of his administration, said, “No responsible government goes to sleep when its workforce is having sleepless nights.”

He said in the past one year, his administration had demonstrated a great deal of sensitivity to the plight of workers. .

He added, “A few weeks after I was sworn in as your governor, we took bold steps to look into the difficulties workers were having in transporting themselves to Awka from various parts of the state.

“Consequently, we provided four buses to convey workers from Onitsha, Otuocha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia to and from Awka. We also donated three buses to NLC, NUC and JNC.

“Similarly, less than one year into my administration, we increased workers’ salaries by 15 per cent.

“I also assured you  that I would do more if our Internally Generated Revenue grows.  Interestingly, we increased salaries at a time when oil prices were crashing and governments were looking for bailouts.

“In spite of the prevailing difficulties, we have kept our promise to always pay your salaries regularly.”

Governors who sleep without paying workers salaries irresponsible - Obiano

N300 Billion Bailout Fund Ready Available Soon - Presidency

THE Presidency, on Monday, announced that the implementation of a three-pronged financial intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari to assuage workers plight and support the states is now in progress.

President Buhari

According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, in Abuja, state governments would start benefiting from the special intervention fund of between N250 billion and N300 billion in a matter of weeks.

It said currently, planning meetings are being held between members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on the one hand, and also between CBN and commercial banks on the other hand, regarding details of the special intervention fund and the debt relief programme of the president for the states.

The statement added: “Such meetings are reviewing loan profiles of the states, issues around restructuring of existing loans including time span and reconciling the figures.

“Already, it has been agreed that existing state loans be restructured for 20 years, and regarding the bond option, the rates to be applied would be market-based but with a cap to make it affordable. Within weeks from now, the states are expected to start benefiting from this two other parts of the presidential intervention.”

The statement recalled that the details of the presidential intervention are in three parts.

It added: “The sharing of about $2.1 billion in fresh allocation between the states and the Federal Government. The money was sourced from recent LNG proceeds to the Federation Account, and its release okayed by the president.

“A Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund to the tune of about N250 billion to N300 billion that will offer financing to the states. This would be a soft loan available to states.

“A debt relief programme by the Central Bank of Nigeria and Debt Management Office (DMO), which will help states convert their commercial bank loans into bonds, and restructuring such loans by extending their life span thereby reducing the debt-servicing expenditures of the states.

“By extending the commercial loans of the states, the third part of the presidential intervention would therefore make available more funds to the state governments which otherwise would have been removed at source by the banks.

“To be able to offer this option to the states, President Muhammadu Buhari brought the financial muscle of the federal government to bear on behalf of the states guaranteeing the elongation of the loans.

“Besides, the availability of the $2.1billion from LNG which has now been shared to the states was made possible because President Buhari set a new fiscal standard and tone that all monies generated should go to the federation accounts. Before that constitutional standard was upheld by the president, LNG dividends were going to other NNPC designated accounts.

“None of the three parts of this intervention would have been possible without the creativity and approval of President Buhari. It should be noted that the backlog of the salaries in some of the states went back several months before the president took office.

“To date, the states have now drawn from the LNG taxes and dividends totaling $2.1billion, besides a second sharing from the federation account the regular monthly allocations-a sum of over N518 Billion last week.

“Finally states have been advised during NEC meetings to take certain steps to avoid a similar financial crisis in the future. These include making the payment of salaries, a first-line charge, fo more to increase their internally generated revenue, clean-up their payroll to eliminate ghost workers and have a fully-functional Debt Management Offices.”

N300 Billion Bailout Fund Ready Available Soon - Presidency

How Tinubu lured 5 governors out of PDP - Tony Momoh

Former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh in this interview speaks among others on the import of President Mohammadu Buhari’s visit to the United States of America and the deals high-wire politicking that landed the All Progressives Congress at the presidency.

What do you think  Nigeria stands to gain from President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the United States of America?

Bola Tinubu

Nigeria is looking up to the world in securing and stabilising the country through development.  That is one of the things  President Buhari’s visit will achieve for Nigeria.  Being in the US with President Barack Obama,  Nigerians have been able to discover that Buhari  is not stubborn and rigid but  simply a man with disciplined mind and a high sense of putting things in proper shape.

With that visit, America will assist Nigeria.  Americans knew about the  thefts  that we are talking about.  They knew about them before now but they were unwilling to relate to Nigeria because, apparently they knew more than us.  They knew about the indiscipline and corruption in the land but, Buhari is ready to fight corruption because he never indulged in corrupt practices.

Corrupt practices

So, the visit to the US has provided diverse opportunities for Nigeria to achieve stability and development.

Are you in support of plans to probe  ex-ministers over alleged oil theft?

President Buhari is not going to investigate and is not going to set up any commission of enquiry.   He will allow the security agencies to  do their work and they are already doing that.  Is it not because the security agencies are doing their work that  these revelations about oil theft and missing funds are becoming known?  The security agencies should be allowed to do their work.  Nigerians should be ready for the cleansing job that is going to take place.

But in doing what you regard as cleansing, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Jonathan’s people are seeing it as witch-hunting.  What about that?

Are you saying that what these people are alleged  to have done that they did not do them?  If the rules are there and then Buhari says, ‘follow the rules,’ is that witch-hunting?

Many have been complaining that the Buhari administration is slow. When you hear complaints like that, how do you feel?

People  cannot say that the government is slow or not working because, even without the ministers, the permanent secretaries have shown that the civil servants are the major officers concerned with the business of government. They have really been performing since Buhari became President.

President Buhari is a man that I have been with since 2003.  I was the head of his campaign organisation in 2003, 2007 and chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where he contested again for presidency in 2011.  I know him so well that he is never a push over.  He does his own things at his own pace.  So, he doesn’t bother about  detractors.

Smooth performance

Don’t forget that Nigerians will not ask those detractors who are complaining about not appointing ministers.    Buhari  needs to carefully prepare the ground for smooth performance. Nigerians should be patient.  They will be proud that Buhari is their President.

He came in 1984 and this is 2015.  He needs to understudy things properly.   He is trying to secure the ground and then fight the enemy of good governance which is corruption.  It is only then that  he can appoint ministers.

How confident are you that Buhari will  fight corruption, insecurity and still  have his feet on the ground to handle other functions of government?

I have confidence in  Buhari and I believe strongly that he has all it takes to achieve all those things that you have listed.  He  is the only elected President of Nigeria that started by wanting to become President.

In 1960, Sir Tafawa Balewa was made Prime Minister.  His  ambition was  to become a broadcaster.  In 1979, Alhaji Shehu Shagari became President.  He had wanted to be a senator.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was made President in 1999.  He was in prison and his thought was to be free and not to die in prison.

In 2007, Yar’ Adua was made President by those who chose him.   He had wanted to finish his eight-year term as governor of Katsina State and thereafter return peacefully to his job as lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was very comfortable with his job as governor of Bayelsa State.  But he was brought to Abuja first as Vice President and later as President.  None of them ever thought of being President.

But when you talk of somebody who started out by really wanting to be President, it is President  Buhari.  Some people had put a book together and the book was titled, “Project Nigeria.”  In the  book, they had spelt out how they wanted to rebuild and develop Nigeria.  They gave it to Buhari to look at and when he looked at it, he made some jottings out of the book and then made up his mind about it. It was put together by a group of Northerners, who are very  intelligent.

Meanwhile, President Buhari had always said that he was feeling sad seeing little children selling pure water and running around in the streets at a time they should be in school.

Interest in politics

All these put together motivated him into developing interest in politics.  He had the vision  to change the existing lifestyle of Nigerians  particularly the little children. And because he is the only one who is in politics to become President, he contested 2003, he didn’t make it.  He contested 2007 and in 2011 when he couldn’t make it, he said, “ Nigerians have opportunity for their lives to be made better but they lost it.”  And he was about quitting but I said to him, “don’t stop. You will wait for your time and the time will come.”

On Tinubu

That is why we can never underrate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the success that we achieved in the 2015 election that produced this government.  Tinubu is an excellent crowd mobilizer, very highly proactive and exceptionally digital politician.  He was the one who knew how he wooed the five governors of the New PDP  and brought them into the APC.   You cannot underrate Tinubu’s contribution to the success of the emergence of this government.

I only pity the PDP who are thinking that the so called crisis in the National Assembly is to their favour.  There is no problem with what  happened in the Senate and House of Representatives because we cannot say because Saraki emerged as Senate President that he is PDP or that because Dogara emerged as Speaker of the House he is a PDP person.

On Ekweremadu

The  House voted in  Ekweremadu as  Deputy Senate President.  We thank God that David Mark did not emerge the Senate President because they would have said that it is constitutional.

We should give kudos to Tinubu because of his role in the influence that brought the PDP governors into  APC.  He wooed Saraki and Atiku and he knew how he went into the PDP and played all those games. I would tell you that two politicians that should be respected most in Nigeria today are Tinubu and Bisi Akande.

But I will also blame Tinubu for the crisis because having brought Saraki, Atiku and the five governors, you should know that it is not proper to think that Saraki, Dogara, Atiku, Kwankwaso will ever still be thinking of being PDP in APC.  No.  None of them is PDP any longer and they will ever remain APC.  So, they should be so treated. What we owe Nigerians is delivery on our change mandate.

Change mandate

APC was just lucky to be the vehicle used to drive the change because, even without the APC, the Nigerian people would still have overrun the system and achieve the change by themselves.  I congratulate the APC for being  lucky to be the vehicle for driving the change.  It is sad that the debt Jonathan plunged us into as a nation will take a  long period to repay.

On planned probe of Jonathan’s government

If anybody had done anything bad in the past, it is the business of the security agencies to investigate.  President Buhari won’t be the one to do that.  He believes that the security agencies should know what to do to anybody, who has committed a crime, be it financial or whatever.

So, the security agencies should not wait until the President tells them to go after such a person because Buhari will not ask any security agent to do so.  He believes that the constitution has stated  clearly the roles of security agencies.  If they now see an offender, who committed a crime and fail to handle such a person according to the law, then the law enforcement agents should be blamed.

 

This interview was first published on Vanguard

How Tinubu lured 5 governors out of PDP - Tony Momoh

We never asked for bailout, say governors

DID the 36 state governors ever approach the Federal Government for a bailout? Their umbrella platform – the Nigerain Governors’ Forum (NGF) – said no yesterday.

APC Governors

Rising after their late night meeting on Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the governors said the $2.1 billion shared earlier in the month were proceeds paid to the Federation Account by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Ltd through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The proceeds include $1.6 billion Income Tax/Education tax, dividends and others for 2014.

But the governors, through their chair, Abdulaziz Yari, said the states’ chief executives never asked for a bailout from the Presidency.

His assertion reinforced the claims of some governors who have been explaining that what they got from the $2.1 billion was their legitimate share of the national revenue.

Yari, who is the Zamfara State Governor, said it was necessary to inform the media that the Federal Government did not give any bailout to any of the states.

His words: “What had been shared last time were monies from NLNG and FAAC (Federation Account and Allocation Committee). And as we have been saying, we have not been looking for bailout.

“Instead, we have been looking for all monies that are in the coffers of the federation most especially we are talking about some of the monies that are hung around the coffers of government to be brought together for the purpose of sharing.”

The new position taken by the governors however contradicts the previous one they held.

After President Muhammadu Buhari’s election and before his inauguration, governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) visited him at the Defence House where they held a long meeting.

The chairman of the forum and governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, told reporters that the governors asked for a bailout from Mr. Buhari because many of the states were cash-strapped.

Again, the APC governors asked for a bailout after their meeting at the Imo House in Abuja, insisting that without such intervention, some states may not be able to pay arrears of salaries and meet other financial obligations.

Their counterparts on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also held a separate meeting and adopted the same position after which an enlarged meeting of the NGF on June 21 took a position to meet with the President on the issue.

The governors met with Mr. Buhari and it was announced that the Federal Government had worked out a relief package for the states.

The package included the $2.1 billion NLNG payment, provision of low-interest rate credit facility and the rescheduling of existing debts.

Yari, however, maintained yesterday: “We are not taking any bailout from the Federal Government and the Federal Government did not give us any bailout yet.

“But we are talking on how best the intervention will happen within these days so we will be able to settle the issue of salaries and other operations in government in the country.”

The NGF also expressed concern over the sliding value of the naira and resolved to take the matter up with the Presidency.

The governors described as ‘excessively’ high exchange rate of foreign currencies against the naira.

As at yesterday, the exchange rate stood at N247 naira to the dollar at the parallel market as at Thursday.

In a communique read by the NGF chair and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, the governors lamented the adverse effects of the high exchange rate on the economy.

Yari said: “We are going to discuss with Mr. President to seek lasting solutions to the worsening macroeconomic challenges confronting the nation, especially on foreign exchange stability.

“The forum pledges to work with Mr. President to ensure coherent policy actions that will create a clear policy direction for the country and stimulate domestic production.”

Yari also said the governors discussed health related issues, with the view to seeking areas of cooperation with the Federal Government on the implementation of the National Health Act.

He said: “We will collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that the National Health Act is operational and to agree on funding for primary health care to be provided for in the budget.

“Sequel to the presentation made by the Country Representative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the forum agreed to aggressively support the total eradication of polio in the country.”

We never asked for bailout, say governors

Find ways to pay your workers salaries - Buhari charges governors

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday charged state governors to seek efficient ways to settle unpaid workers’ salaries in their states.

Buhari

Many of the state governments have been hit by cash crunch and are owing huge workers’ salaries, among other indebtedness.

Inaugurating the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari also asked government at all levels to be more prudent in the management of their resources.

He urged state governors to look inward in order to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to supplement income from the Federation Account.

He said: “Your Excellencies, it is evident that the task of ensuring growth, job creation and equity, is quite enormous. Consequently, we must kick-start this process by cultivating a culture of prudent management of resources at all levels of government.

“This will entail looking inwards to secure sustainable ways of increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and harnessing growth potentials of each state to supplement the Federation Account allocation to states.

“I therefore urge council members to consider, as a matter of urgency, exploring efficient means of gradually liquidating all unpaid salaries of staff, which have brought untold hardship to thousands of families.”

The President also tasked the states to embark on projects that will meet immediate needs of the people within available resources.

Buhari harped on the need for neighboring states to cooperate closely on projects like interstate and feeder roads, soil erosion, desertification and other developmental programmes.

“I would like also, as a former governor myself to remind us the need for neighbouring states to cooperate closely on projects such as interstate and feeder roads, soil erosion, desertification and other developmental programmes,” he stated.

The President said that efforts should be made to distance politics from developmental programmes.

“Our country is one and we who have the responsibility to run it should lead by example. As far as is possible there should be distance between politics and developmental programmes,” he added.

He promised that the Federal Government, on its part, will ensure more accountability, transparency and integrity in the distribution of the Federation Account as it will abide by the provisions of Sections 80 and 162 of the Constitution.

Buhari said: “All revenue generating agencies such as Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) amongst others shall comply with stipulated financial regulations and administrative instructions in their remittances into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

On insurgency, he said the Nigerian Armed Forces have shown renewed commitment and made steady progress in the fight against Boko Haram.

“I am also happy to reiterate that following my invitation to Germany early this month by the G-7 Nations who have shown concern about the insurgency and promised to intervene to restore the destroyed infrastructure, schools and hospitals amongst others, I have directed the front line states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to articulate realistic assessments, costs, locations on local government by-local government of affected facilities for submission to the President of the G-7 for further verification.

“In addition, the requirements of the military have been prepared by the Service Chiefs for the consideration of the G-7 Nations.”

Find ways to pay your workers salaries - Buhari charges governors

Corruption: EFCC Declares War On Ex-Govs

• EFCC Arrests Ohakim, Grills Lamido, Tightens Noose On Chime

These, indeed, are troubled times for Nigeria’s former state governors, as there seem no more hiding place, with a President that has sworn to “kill corruption” in the country, in the saddle.

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde

Barely 48 hours after playing host to 74-year old immediate past governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have further rediscovered its venom. On Thursday arrested ex Imo governor, Ikedi Ohakim.

Ohakim, who was arrested and brought to the EFCC headquarters at about 10am, was still with the commission as at 6p.m., responding to questions from operatives.

The ex-Imo Governor was however not alone on Thursday, as his former colleague and immediate past Governor of Jigawa State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, came to honour an invitation.

Lamido was grilled by operatives over the way he managed the resources of his state during his eight-year tenure.

The Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed Ohakim’s arrest to Daily Independent in Abuja, yesterday.

According to him, “I do not know the issues involved, but what I know is that the former governor has been picked in connection with the way and manner he managed the resources of Imo state when he held sway as governor of the state.”

Daily Independent findings show that Lamido is being questioned about issues relating to bribery and money laundering.

Ohakim was however released at about 6.30pm on Thursday, while Lamido was still at the EFCC headquarters. It was not clear whether he would be released before close of day.

Meanwhile, there is also fresh trouble lurking around former Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, following two petitions filed against him and his former Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, at the EFCC.

The petitions, our correspondent learnt, were filed by former National Auditor of the PDP, Ray Nnaji.

Chime had survived a plot by 15 members of the House of Assembly to impeach him in the twilight of his administration.

But, the anti-corruption agency early this month, notified Nnaji through a letter, that investigation has started on his petition against Mrs. Nwobodo.

The letter dated June 3, 2015, was signed by the Head, Economic Governance of the Commission, Olufunke Adetayo-Ogunbode, was titled: “Investigation Activities, Re: Petition Against Chief (Mrs) Ifeoma Nwobodo for Misappropriation of Public Funds, Self Enrichment, Breach of Code of Conduct Act and Other Related Offence While in Office As Chief of Staff Enugu State.”

A copy of the letter obtained by our correspondent reads: “This is to acknowledge receipt of your petition, with the above caption and to inform you that investigation into the case has commenced.

“In the light of the above, you are kindly requested to be interviewed by the undersigned through Mr Bashir Dalhatu on Monday, 15th June, 2015 at the Commission’s Headquarters, Block C, No. 5 Fomella Street, Off Ademola Adetokumbo Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja by 9.am.”

Nnaji who confirmed the appointment with the EFCC in an interview, told our correspondent, however that he could not make it as the date coincided with two of his civil cases before the Federal High Court Umuahia.

Nnaji said that he wrote to the EFCC, requesting for a shift in the date of the interview to any date between July 6, 9, 20 and 27, 2015.

The former PDP Auditor filed an ex-parte motion before the Federal High Court Enugu, seeking an order of Mandamus to compel EFCC to investigate Chime and three others with respect to the activities of their offices and affairs in Enugu State from June 2007 to May 2015 with a view to prosecuting them after investigation.

Nnaji had last month issued a two weeks ultimatum to the anti-graft agency to investigate Chime for misappropriation of public funds, forgery and related offences.

Corruption: EFCC Declares War On Ex-Govs

Governors To Demand From Buhari Fund Spent On Federal Projects

Cash-crunched state governments have resolved to demand from President Muhammadu Buhari, the refund of money spent on executing Federal Government projects in their respective states.

Aregbesola

They argued that doing so was the only option before them since the Federal Government was also not liquid.

The payment of the debts was one of the issues raised and discussed by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum at its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

Their Chairman, who is also the Governor of Zamafara State, Abdullazez Yari, read the communiqué after the meeting.

Yari said the governors had agreed to meet with Buhari next week over the issue(debt payment).

He said, “We all know that the economy of the country is in a bad shape. So, what we suggested and agreed on was that a number of state governors have executed various projects for the Federal Government.

“So, instead of looking for that (bailout), let us ask the Federal Government to settle that backlog owed us so that we can move forward.

“In nearly all the states, you may have N10bn or N20bn owed. Like in Lagos, more than N50bn was spent on federal projects that has yet to be settled.

“So, if we can get that done, then most of the issues can be resolved in earnest. So, we are seeing the President next week.”

Yari added that the governors were threading softly because they were aware that some federal parastatal and agency workers were also being owed salaries.

He said, “As we are (in) bad (debt), the Federal Government is also on the same lane because some of the agencies and parastatals have not paid the salaries of their members of staff for six months. So it is not only the states that are owing some of their employees.

“It is the problem of the entire nation. We are going to work in synergy with the Federal Government to overcome the challenge. We will meet with the President next week so that we can get a lasting solution to this problem.”

Apart from this, Yari said that the governors had agreed to hold a retreat on how states could enhance good governance and improve their revenue base.

The Zamfara State governor, who will serve as chairman of the forum for one year, added that his colleagues had also agreed to work with the President to move the country forward.

Also speaking, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State stated that the problem facing the states was not payment of salaries alone, but meeting their obligations to all Nigerians.

He said that Buhari must stop the stealing of public funds by greedy Nigerians so that the country could move forward.

The governor lamented that only $2.5bn was left in the Excess Crude Account as of Wednesday.

He said, “To stop the fleecing; stop the stealing and get those who had stolen return the money. We are surprised that the excess crude fund has dropped to $2.5bn.

“How did this happen? No nation makes enough money to feed the greed of a few people.

“The issue is not about payment of salaries. In Edo State, we are paying. But the issue is not that because even the Bible says 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 plug all the loopholes. You don’t need to victimise anybody, just plug the loopholes.”

He said that the financial crisis facing the states would be worse if governments failed to pay contractors and were therefore made to lay off workers.

“The crisis we face now, concerning public sector; if we don’t pay contractors, the day they lay off their workers, we will have a greater problem,” he added.

The governor said that Buhari needed to take the advice of governors because of the huge debt he inherited.

This and other issues, according to him, will be discussed objectively during their meeting with the President next week.

Governors To Demand From Buhari Fund Spent On Federal Projects

PDP govs condemn relocation of Rivers, A"Ibom, Taraba, Tribunal To Abuja

Peoples Democratic Party governors under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum have expressed displeasure over the relocation of Taraba, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States Election Petition tribunals to Abuja.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko

The governors said this at their meeting which was held in Abuja on Tuesday night.

At the meeting which ended in the early hours of Wednesday, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was also elected as the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting that started at 9:30pm and ended 12:07am, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, said his colleagues were not happy about the relocation of the tribunals.

He said, “We condemn in very strong terms the relocation of election tribunals in Rivers State, Taraba State and Akwa Ibom State to Abuja.”

He added that “the PDP governors’ forum unanimously elected Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as Chairman of the forum.”

He said the governors were equally delighted about the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Besides, the governors expressed their delight for the way former President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the outcome of the election.

Ikpeazu further said, “We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, on his election as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“We also commend and salute our former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for his display of peaceful disposition in the 2015 general elections, which has stabilised our political landscape.

“We equally congratulate Senator Bukola Saraki, Yakubu Dogara and Suleiman Lasun on their emergence as the Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

“We specially congratulate our own Senator, Ike Ekweremadu, on his emergence as Deputy Senate President.”

Also speaking with journalist, the new PDPGF Chairman, Mimiko, said, “we will do everything that we can do to engage the presidency and APC in a very constructive manner. We have also agreed to create formal and informal mechanisms of peer review, all for the development of our nation.”

Governors in attendance were Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Capt. Idris Wada (Kogi), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

The deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah(retd.), represented his state at the meeting.

Governors absent at the meeting were Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Nyesome Wike of Rivers, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State.

PDP govs condemn relocation of Rivers, A"Ibom, Taraba, Tribunal To Abuja

Unpaid Salaries: 36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states

ABUJA —  Troubled by the precarious financial situation of 18 out of the 36 states of the federation, the governors are meeting today in Abuja to propose a bail out scheme for the financially handicapped states.

The governors are to brainstorm on possible solution to the several months of unpaid salaries in the technically bankrupt states among other issues, according to a statement issued yesterday by Director-General of the Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru

The governors are said to be worried that if the situation in the affected states is allowed to linger, it may portend danger for the nation’s nascent democracy. The states that are financially down, it was learnt, if left on their own may not be able to address some of the very serious problems confronting them.

The governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, will examine issues relating to the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, the Excess Crude Accounts ( ECA) and Revenue Enhancement Scheme as it affects state revenue flow for states, according to items listed on the agenda of today’s meeting.

The meeting will be presided over by NGF chairman and governor of Zamfara State, Abdullaziz Yari.

ABUJA —       Troubled by the precarious financial situation of 18 out of the 36 states of the federation, the governors are meeting today in Abuja to propose a bail out scheme for the financially handicapped states.

The governors are to brainstorm on possible solution to the several months of unpaid salaries in the technically bankrupt states among other issues, according to a statement issued yesterday by Director-General of the Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru

The governors are said to be worried that if the situation in the affected states is allowed to linger, it may portend danger for the nation’s nascent democracy. The states that are financially down, it was learnt, if left on their own may not be able to address some of the very serious problems confronting them.

The governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, will examine issues relating to the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, the Excess Crude Accounts ( ECA) and Revenue Enhancement Scheme as it affects state revenue flow for states, according to items listed on the agenda of today’s meeting.

The meeting will be presided over by NGF chairman and governor of Zamfara State, Abdullaziz Yari.

Invited Governors

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Okauru disclosed that all the governors, including Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Senator Benedict Ayade of Cross River, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano; Kashim Shettima of Borno and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, were invited to the meeting.

On Monday, Vanguard published a lead story on why about eighteen states in the federation can not pay their workers salaries. Some states owed their workers several months.

Oyo workers lament

Oyo State Governor, Abiola AjimobiOyo S

Workers in Oyo State whose strength has been put at over 30,000 have been lamenting their unpaid three-month salary arrears. As at last month, the Abiola Ajimobi led-administration was owing some of them three months while others, especially those in the state owned tertiary institutions are claiming that they only received salary in January this year. Last month workers in the state embarked on warning strike for about three weeks. Before the strike was suspended, the state branch of Nigeria Labour Congress led by Mr. Waheed Olojede and the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding stating how the backlog of salary arrears would be paid.

The Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade explained that instead of the monthly allocation of N5.2 billion from the federation account, it has come down to N2.6 billion. This, he said was largely responsible for the paucity of funds in the state.

Speaking to Vanguard in a telephone interview yesterday, Olojede agreed with the Head of Service that the shortfall in the state’s revenue was due to the cut in the monthly allocation from the federation account. He said knowing the incapability of the state government in the area of finance; the labour union was diplomatic in resolving the issue with the government.

According to him, before the union came in, the government could not pay the salaries of workers at all and the union had to advise the government on how to pay the suffering workers.

“As at that time, about 20,000 workers in the state were yet to be paid their salaries and when we came in, the government agreed to pay January salary.

“Later, we made them to pay February. What remains now are deductions for the month of February and the government will pay that any moment from now”, he said.

Olojede further explained that the government would pay the March salary any moment from now and it will then owe April and May. He said as at the moment he was speaking with Vanguard, he could not say the exact number of workers in the state.

Internally Generated Revenue

Vanguard findings however revealed that the government has made remarkable progress in its drive to increase Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.

The state’s IGR was N10.4 billion in 2014, N14.5 billion in 2012, N15.25 billion in 2013 and N16.3 billion in 2014.

All efforts to get the government’s reaction to the story were futile because former media aides and former commissioners were not ready to speak on the issue. The state government is not in a hurry to make any appointment now. Vanguard, however, gathered from a source that the government intentionally did not make public the population of workers in the state and the federal allocation on monthly basis.

A source who is a civil servant said they did not have the analysis, and directed our correspondent to labour leaders who also are not willing to divulge the information.

Ebonyi

In Ebonyi, the government has raised alarm over the debt profile of the state which is estimated at over N50 billion incurred by the administration of Governor Martin Elechi. In a chat with Vanguard, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof Ben Odo stated that the debt profile included salaries owed workers and unpaid certificates generated by contractors handling projects across the state. According to him, the state government had held series of meetings with various strata of Ebonyi society, including organised labour in order to chart a new course for the payment of workers salaries and reduction of the state’s debt burden.

He expressed commitment of the present administration in the state toward improving the welfare of workers.

“We have invited the Joint Labour Team for an interaction where we presented the reality on ground regarding the huge debt profile in the state. The welfare of workers is prime to this administration and we are committed to it against all odds.

“During the interaction we told Labour to assist us in ensuring that there is a boost in our Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. We have told Labour to help us block the leakages that have kept our IGR very low in the state as we are deeply committed to the payment of workers.

“There are two categories of debts profile that make the N50 billion and it has to do with workers salaries and non-payment of contractors. There is no money in the state presently as we are using personal resources to run the government; we presented this reality to Labour and others.”

We need bailout—APC govs

Meanwhile, Governors on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, have pleaded for the intervention of the Federal Government to enable them pay salaries workers and meet other necessary demands.

Rising from a meeting that lasted for over five hours, the chairman of the Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorcha, said the state of the economy called for urgent attention.

He said: “We the governors of the progressive party met today to review the state of the economy. We also met to review the issues as it affect our great party.

“First, on the economy of the nation, we are concerned and worried by the dwindling revenue of the states which today has affected negatively the lives of our people.

“It has become so serious and urgent actions must be taken for a bailout for the states. States are not getting better either. We sat down to review what steps could be taken. We are calling for overhaul of the system to block all the leakages in our economy.

“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 nillion. Today, it is about N1.4 trillion. We are worried.

Plateau

In Plateau State, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Director of Press & Public Affairs said: “The government of Simon Lalong inherited the situation and what the Transition Committee is doing and what government is trying to do, is to understand basically the reason for non-payment of salaries.

“Basically, one couldn’t really guess what would have been the reason. The governor has also mentioned clearly that he feels that if the previous government did not dip their hands in the face of dwindling economic resources and fall in revenue profile into wide-spread government projects that had not been prioritized with cost benefit analysis, we wouldn’t have found ourselves in this situation.

Right now, we found ourselves in this situation wherein you have debt servicing taking a large chunk of the money and leaving recurrent expenditure hanging and as such salaries could not be paid.

“Right now we need to streamline our priorities, identify the projects that are of necessity that must be finished and then once those projects are tidied up and staggered alongside the resources that are available at hand to be able to address the myriads of other problems being for attention.”

On how soon the arrears of salaries will be liquidated he said: “I am sure you are in tune. That is why Labour called off the strike in the last few days. The reason for the calling off of the strike is that they arrived at a common agreement with government to the effect that salaries will be paid concurrently with one month arrears.

“That has been worked out and signed and everyone in Plateau state is expectant, full of hopes and waiting to see that they receive one month arrears.

“Those who have not received November, 2014 salary will receive double, those who received will get only one month until everyone is brought at par then they will receive December and they will receive the subsisting current one. In a period of six months, all arrears would have been paid.”

Katsina

In Katsina, Vanguard findings showed that the newly inaugurated administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari may not be able to pay workers salaries because it inherited an empty treasury. The governor’s spokesman, Labaran Abdul told Vanguard in an interview that apart from the huge debt incurred by the immediate past administration, Shema emptied the treasury. Abdul said although the immediate past government did not owe worker salaries, the PDP led government of the former regime of Governor Shema left an empty treasury.

“So, I think we may be finding it difficult to pay salaries as at when due because as I talk to you the accounts of the state government have been frozen. Abdul said the governor in his determined effort has vowed to ensure that sanity was brought to bear in the governance of Katsina State as business would no longer be as usual.

Abia

Vanguard investigations also showed that in Abia State, there is no Information Commissioner yet, and no official was willing to dabble into discussing the issue of why workers were not paid, perhaps for fear of political persecution, bearing in mind how the present governor emerged.

However, state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Uchenna Obigwe said that Labour expected the new government to open up on the issue so that Labour can ask questions and follow up.

Obigwe said 70% of the state’s workforce of about 20,000 is still being owed salary arrears. The figure, according to him, constitute mainly teachers, local government workers, pensioners, parastatals’ staff, including tertiary institutions.

Labour in the state, he said, has already compiled the debt profile and sent to its headquarters. However, the aggrieved workers who are being owed blamed their woes on the huge amount of money spent in the last elections by the previous government. Others blamed it on the “wasteful lifestyle of past government officials” and their insensitivity to workers.

For now, it is not yet known how the new government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu intends to offset the salary arrears as he has not opened up on this sore issue. But a source close to him, disclosed that he has been talking to banks to raise money to offset the arrears.

Abia received between N4 and N5 billion from the federation account before national allocations nosedived and now it gets about N2 billion while it has a wage bill of over N1.5 billion, and an IGR of about N500 million.

Benue

In Benue State, Vanguard gathered that a few days ago, Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed that the state is owing its workforce backlog of salaries amounting to over N12 billion. The governor stated that the accumulated five months salary arrears were inherited from the immediate past Gabriel Suswam-led administration.

Ortom said his administration had already commenced moves to clear the backlog, promising that in the interim, his government would pay one month of the arrears across board, while efforts would be intensified to clear the remainder.

The governor also disclosed that the former administration in May took an overdraft from its receiving bank to the tune of N1.9billion. He also attributed the development to the dwindling allocation to states from the federation account.

He said: “When we received our allocation for that month which was just N1.6 billion it was withheld by the bank, leaving us with nothing but an outstanding N300million to be paid.”

Contacted, Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Tahav Agezua said the former administration should be in a better position to explain why salaries were not paid.

Agezua added further that “on our part, we are making efforts to pay, but we are starting payments from June and thereafter intensify efforts to clear the backlog.”

Cross River

It will be recalled that on May 26, 2015, two days to the end of Senator Imoke’s administration, workers in Cross River state went on strike occasioned by the non-payment of their April salaries which were outstanding at the time.

The workers were afraid that Senator Imoke who had earlier promised to offset all salaries owed the workers during his final May Day address to the workers during the May Day celebration would leave office without fulfilling his promise and the strike was to pre-empt any such move.

Senator Imoke however prevailed on the workers to call off the strike and to keep to his word, while he was handing over to Senator Ben Ayade, the state civil servants apart from their counterparts on the payroll of the Local Government Service Commission received alerts from their banks notifying them of the payment of their April salaries.

Also few days after Senator Ayade assumed the mantle of leadership, he ordered payment of May salaries to the workers, leaving out primary school teachers, medical and health workers and others on the payroll of local governments. These categories of workers were in the months of January, February and March paid half of their salaries. However during the negotiation with Imoke, their leaders asked that instead of the piecemeal payment, the workers were ready to wait till the month of June for the complete salaries for the months of April and May.

State Accountant-General, Mr Henry Ojugwu told Vanguard that the state has one of the least allocations among states in the South-South occasioned by the loss of its seventy six oil wells to neigbouring Akwa Ibom State but has been doing its best to pay workers their salaries.

He said the state’s monthly allocation from the federation account oscillates between N2-2.5 billion Naira, and that worker’s and political office holders salaries take bulk of the allocation .

“We spend about N1.7 billion on salaries alone and we have quite a number of on-going projects under execution and as such we need to create a balance between the payment of salaries and project execution by sourcing for additional funds.”

Though he would not mention how the additional funds are sourced to run the state but internally generated revenue and loans account for a large chunk of the additional funds as the state makes about N1.3 billion naira every month. The state in 2012 generated N15.3 billion as internally-generated revenue, which funds have been very useful in helping to offset the cost of salary payments and other administrative needs.

The meeting of the 36 state Governors is coming on the heels of another factional group which was loyal to former governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State that was held on Tuesday, an indication that the crisis which rocked the Governors Forum during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure was set to continue.

The factional group fixed its first meeting for Tuesday with Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state as leader. In a statement signed on Monday by the Coordinator of the Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the meeting is scheduled for 7.00 p.m. in Maitama, Abuja, just as it was the first post election meeting, adding, “top on the agenda are issues like post-election assessment of the party, the way-forward as well as the election of the chairman from amongst the thirteen members.”

The Tuesday meeting by the factional group came barely twenty- eight days after the meeting of the NGF was held in Abuja with former Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, who were at the centre of the crisis of the meeting in attendance, an indication that they have all buried the hatchet and prepared to work together as one body.

The governors, made up of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP met last month at the Lagos/ Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja and it was the first of its kind since 2013 when they fell out. Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State was elected chairman of the forum and he took over from Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers.

Present at the said meeting were former governors Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger; Ramallan Yero of Kaduna; Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta; Isa Yuguda of Bauchi; Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano; Kashim Shettima of Borno; Abiola Ajimobi; Emmanauel Udom of Akwa Ibom; Deputy governor of Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi; Deputy governor of Nasarawa State and Deputy governor of Imo State.

It will be recalled that since the former governor of Rivers State and Chairman, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, NGF, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was re-elected chairman of the forum in May 2013 where he polled 19 votes to defeat governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the only governor who contested with him to score 16, all has not been well with the forum until what appeared to be a reconciliation meeting last month.

It will also be recalled that Amaechi who chaired one of the factions, was first elected Chairman of NGF in 2011 when he took over from former Kwara State governor and now President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum which was established to among others, provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas, help strengthen and promote Nigeria’s federal system and promote understanding among governors and states, is the umbrella body of all the thirty-six state governors of the federation.

 

vanguard

Unpaid Salaries: 36 govs meet on bailout for bankrupt states