Accused of squandering Paris Club money, Nigerian governors pledge to pay workers from new release

Nigerian governors have pledged to judiciously spend the second tranche of Paris Club refund recently approved by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, after allegations of fraud marred the first release approved last December.

A statement by the Nigerian Governors Forum said Friday that all the 36 governors signed off to the agreement which was reached at a meeting on Thursday night.

The meeting held at the Abuja residence of Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, his spokesperson, Bello Barkindo, said in the statement.

“The governors met in anticipation of the release of the other half of the Paris-London Club refund which has been gratuitously approved for payment by the Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo,” Mr. Barkindo said. “The funds are expected to hit the states accounts within the month.”

“We all agreed that a substantial amount from the next tranche of the Paris-London refunds be used in the settlement of workers salary and pension arrears,” Mr. Barkindo quoted Mr. Yari as saying after the meeting.

About N388 billion was released as the first tranche of Paris Club refund last December, providing immediate relief for cash-strapped states.

But the governors have faced criticism from law enforcement agencies and labour unions, who accused them of mismanaging the funds.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been investigating how governors spent the funds.

In late March, the agency said it traced about N3.5 billion to aides of Senate President Bukola Saraki, with anti-graft detectives telling PREMIUM TIMES at the time that the money was intended as bribes for lawmakers to keep mum about potential legal implications of releasing funds that were not captured in budget to states.

Mr. Barkindo said the governors also resolved to set up a committee to look into pending claims by consultants who worked on the Paris Club refund.

“There are litigations from more than ten different consultants still agitating for settlement for their roles in the quest to have the refunds made to states,” Mr. Barkindo said.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State will head the committee.

Governors Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State are members of the committee.

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