President Muhammadu Buhari will Tuesday meet with governors over the issue of unpaid salaries to workers in some states. The meeting is expected to focus on the modality of sourcing funds for the governors to enable them defray the debts owed their workers.
“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. We hope the President helps this time”, a top government official in Osun State, one of the worst hit states told our correspondent.
A Presidency source said the Federal Government may be forced to draw down from the depleting external reserves.
Meantime, the Nigerian Guild of editors (NGE) has decried the non-payment of salaries of workers by some state governments and advised affected states to explore available avenues to alleviate the plights of the workers. This was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the Guild’s Standing Committee Meeting held in Abuja at the weekend.
The Guild commended the Federal Government for the relocation of the Command and Control Centre of the Armed Forces to Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, and urged it to keep up the momentum of the terror war until peace is finally restored to all troubled areas.
The body of Editors also urged the relevant agencies to intensify efforts at resettling internally displaced persons, while ensuring proper protection and care to ameliorate their sufferings.
The Guild further called for the diversification of the economy by Federal and State Governments as well as cutting cost of governance and blocking leakages in the system. It, however, welcomed the efforts of some state governments that have taken steps to cut cost of governance and encouraged others to emulate them.
The Guild also urged the National Assembly to concentrate on the business of law making for which they were elected in the interest of Nigerians.
