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Following an appeal by the 36 state governors seeking President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention over the inability of some states to pay workers’ salaries, the President has agreed to meet with governors tomorrow.
This is just as the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has advised affected states to explore available avenues to alleviate the plights of the workers.
The meeting between President Buhari and the governors is expected to focus on the modality of sourcing funds to enable them defray the debts owed their workers. A top government official of the affected states said: “The President has graciously accepted our overtures to him to help us.
“Some of us owe workers over nine months salary arrears and this has brought activities in the public service to a standstill. We hope the President helps this time.” A Presidency source said the Federal Government may be forced to draw from the depleting external reserves.
Meanwhile, NGE, at the end of its second Quarter Standing Committee Meeting held weekend in Abuja, decried the non-payment of salaries of workers by some state governments and advised affected states to explore available avenues to alleviate the plights of the workers.
NGE’s statement
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, signed by the Acting President, GarbaDeen Muhammad, and General Secretary, Victoria Ibanga stated that “The Guild decried the non-payment of salaries of workers by some state governments and advised affected states to explore available avenues to alleviate the plights of the workers.
“The Guild commended the Federal Government for the relocation of the Command and Control Centre of the Armed Forces to Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, and urged it to keep up the momentum until peace is finally restored to all troubled areas. “The body of Editors also urged the relevant agencies to intensify efforts at resettling internally displaced persons, while ensuring proper protection and care to ameliorate their sufferings.
“The Guild further called for the diversification of the economy by Federal and state governments as well as cutting cost of governance and blocking leakages in the system. “It, however, welcomed the efforts of some state governments that have taken steps to cut cost of governance and encouraged others to emulate them.
“The Guild also urged the National Assembly to concentrate on the business of law making for which they were elected in the interest of Nigerians.
Courtesy – Vanguard
