Use of Paris Club refund as precondition to pay salaries unacceptable, NLC tells govs

The Nigerian Labour Congress has frowned at the situation where governors are now using the Paris Club refund as a precondition to pay salaries of workers in the states.

The labour union described the development as not only inappropriate but also unacceptable. It argued that it will be wrong for some of the governors who failed to use the initial 50 per cent refund earlier given to them to pay salaries and pensions to enjoy another refund.

This came following the meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday to seek for a refund of the remaining 50 per cent of Paris Club fund.

Zamfara State Governor and NGF chairman, Abdullaziz Yari, who led the NGF delegation to Buhari had told newsmen in Abuja after the meeting with Buhari, that “Our mission here is simple, we are here to thank Mr. President for his concern about the states’ economy and the situation by giving us several supports, ranging from bail out to restructuring our debt, London- Paris Club exit payment, etc.

“We also told him that we think it was because of the decision he has taken to give bailout, for which many Nigerians are criticising him that we got out of recession. Note that the 200 million citizens residing in Nigeria are residing in respective states. This support is going down to them, when you are taking the indices from the grassroots.

“We thanked the President for that and at the same time, as a father, we confronted him (by reminding him) that in 2016, we presented to you the numbers of London and Paris exit funds which we agreed, and you directed we be paid 50 per cent and 50 per cent open for reconciliation.

But reacting, NLC general secretary, Dr. Peter Ozon-Eson, maintained that governors who did not use 50 per cent of earlier refund to pay salaries must first comply by ensuring they pay their state workers as agreed with the Federal Government bailout before asking for another.

He said, “Paris Club refund money belongs to state governors but to use it as precondition for salary payment is inappropriate and unacceptable to us.

“We know that with or without the refund, the governors have money to pay. When the earlier refund was made, there was a commitment that they were going to use 50 per cent of the refund to pay salaries and pensions.

“Those of them (governors) who did not comply with the agreement have no right to demand for another refund. They must first comply with the agreement or commitment reached on the earlier refund before they can enjoy another refund”, he stated.

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