President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with members of the National Council of traditional rulers and expressed concern the way the Paris Club Refund was spent by some state governors.
The federal government had on May 4 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 and 2002.
Buhari, who met the traditional rulers at Aso Rock ,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,” Mr. Buhari said.
“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 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.
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.
Sultan of Sokoto 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.
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