Buhari orders fresh Paris Club refund to states

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday directed the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to immediately release the second tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds to states.

He said the presidential order should be carried out “appropriately and with dispatch.”

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke while addressing a meeting of the National Economic Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The council which is made up of state governors is chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Buhari who had earlier released the first tranche of N388bn to the state governments in December 2016 said the latest release was meant to ease their financial hardships. 

He stressed the need for the state governors to ensure the settlement of unpaid salaries and pension liabilities of their workers with the payment.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdul-Aziz Yari of Zamfara State assured the President, on behalf of his colleagues, that they will continue to support his policies and actions which they had adjudged as being in the nation’s best interest.

The governors of Imo, Akwa-Ibom, Osun and Abia States thanked President Buhari for saving the day for states through the first tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds while calling for the immediate release of the second one.

They also commended the trust the President reposed in the Osinbajo, whom they said did not disappoint when he acted as President.

Buhari had arrived the venue of the meeting chaired by Osinbajo at about 12.30pm while it was underway.

He went round the hall to shake hands with the state governors and deputy governors standing in for their governors one-after-the-other.

The governors also presented the President with a get-well card which they all signed.