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, 2017 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.
Earlier in his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Sa’ad Abubakar,
said the traditional rulers were in the Presidential Villa to wish the
President and the country well and to express their unflinching support
for the administration.
He, however,
challenged the President to tight up his belt in the discharge of his
responsibilities for the betterment of the country.
The
Sultan reassured that the traditional rulers would continue to pray for
the good health of the president as well as peace and prosperity of the
country.
The Sultan also expressed the
willingness of the traditional rulers to continue to partner with the
government in the fight against corruption and other social vices in the
country.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that six traditional rulers, one
from each geo-political zone of the country, spoke at the occasion where
they reassured the support of their zones for the Buhari administration
as well as the continued existence of Nigeria as one country.
The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, who
spoke on behalf of the North-East traditional rulers, also offered
special prayer for God to continue to give the President good health to
enable him deliver on his promises to Nigerians.
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