SAN FRANCISCO, November 27, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Governors to pay workers’ salary arrears before Christmas.
The President gave the directive at a meeting he had with state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday as he approved the payment of outstanding Paris Club refund to the states before the end of the year.
The President was said to have urged the governors to utilise the money to clear salary arrears they owed their workers before Christmas as the meeting featured discussions on the nation’s economy, workers’ welfare, as well as federal-state relations, among others.
The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, confirmed the development to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
Okorocha said the President, at the meeting, expressed the need to ensure that every Nigerian, especially workers, had a beautiful Christmas.
“The issue of workers took the centre stage and Mr. President expressed concern about those who depend on their salaries to feed their families and pay their house rents and he had the assurance from the governors that we will meet up our obligations,” he revealed.
“Also, it was emphasised that states and Federal Government must work together to get Nigeria out of its present economic predicament.”
When asked specifically if all state governors owing salaries would clear the arrears before Christmas, Okorocha said, “Yes; with the Paris Club refund coming, every worker should enjoy their Christmas.”
El-Rufai also confirmed that Buhari approved the payment of the balance of 50 per cent refund before Christmas to cater for workers.
