President Buhari is scheduled to meet
with Governors of 36 States tomorrow
to address the dire economic troubles
of the issue of unpaid civil servant
workers across the country.
State governments not paying workers has
been a major issue in recent months, most
notoriously in Osun State where workers have
been without pay for months.
This meeting was called after an appeal by
the 36 State Governors for a Presidential
intervention into the empty accounts and
inability to pay civil and State servants. The
focus of the meeting will be the sourcing of
funds to enable the affected States to pay
their debts.
Governor Aregbesola of Osun State has been
under intense pressure by the civil servants in
his State. His spokesman, Semiu Okanlawon,
told SaharaReporters that “this issue
[financial instability and inability to pay
workers] didn’t start today, we gave enough
notice to Nigerians that this was a problem.”
He added, “we are not surprised about this
issue.”
Mr. Okanlawon also told SaharaReporters
that “[Governor Aregbesola] is optimistic that
the result from these meetings” will be good
for the people of Osun State.
He also admitted that the federal government
giving money to States to pay workers will
need to be part of the solution. Mr.
Okanlawon also said that “States need to
raise revenue so we don’t rely on the federal
government.”
Another government official from a State in
fiscal crisis told Vanguard that “the President
has graciously accepted our overtures to him
to help us. Some of us are owing workers
over nine months salary arrears and this has
brought activities in the public service to a
standstill.”
The 18 States that are currently indebted to
their workers are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi,
Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano,
Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo,
Plateau, Rivers, and Zamfara.
A source from the executive government
reported that resolving this issue may force
the Federal Government to draw from
depleting external reserves.
