| From left: Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; President Buhari; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi |
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with members of the National Council of traditional rulers and decried the way the Paris Club Refund was spent by some state governors.
The Federal government had on May 4 released details of the second tranche of Paris Club refund to States totalling N243. 795 billion.
The refund is in respect of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts between 1995-2002.
The President, who met with the traditional rulers at the new Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja frowned at the inability of the affected state governments to pay the retirement benefits and outstanding salaries of workers with the payment of the refund.
“We have to digress this much because I would like to convince you that I’m living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people.
“There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.
“I’m appealing to the governors, (that was why we voted money, we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ he said.
He pledged that his administration would continue to do its best in executing developmental projects to uplift the standard of living of all Nigerians irrespective of their geo-political backgrounds.
The President noted with delight that the country would be witnessing bumper harvest across the country, this year.
He said the bumper harvest was as a result of the prayers of Nigerians which was graciously answered by God.
“We are lucky, last year and this year, the rainy season was good. If it were not good, I’m confiding in you, which country shall I run to? But God answered the prayers of most Nigerians.
“The rainy season last year was good, this year, from the reports I’m getting, it is good. We thank God for that, only God can do that for us otherwise there would have been lot of problems in this country.
President Buhari thanked the traditional rulers for their continued prayers and support to the government and urged them not to relent in efforts toward ensuring peace and stability in their respective domains.
He enjoined them to continue to educate their people on the need to ensure the continued survival of Nigeria as a geo-political entity.