London-Paris Club Refund: Buhari orders Finance Minister, CBN to commence refund to state governors

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday ordered the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, to immediately commence the second tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds to state governors.

Speaking during the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting with comprises of state governors, Ministers and Chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President explained that his directive was aimed at alleviating the “financial hardships” governors are facing.

Addressing the meeting, Buhari made a strong case for settlement of unpaid salaries and pension liabilities of their workers.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant to President, on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying the Adeosun and Emefiele should “act appropriately and with dispatch in releasing the second tranche of the London-Paris Club refunds to the states in order to ease their financial hardships.

“I will not rest until I address those issues that affect our people.  One of these basic things is the issue of salaries.  It is most important that workers are able to feed their families, pay rent and school fees, then other things can follow.”

Buhari also used the opportunity to explain why he barred State Governors from paying him visits at his vacation spot in London.

Buhari, who went round the Council Chambers to greet the governors one after another said he barred them because he wanted stability in governance during his absence.

Commending the unity of the Forum of State Governors, Buhari thanked them profusely for their display of “love and respect” to him.

The President said he was overwhelmed by his recent experience in which states, irrespective of political differences charged their citizens to pray in mosques and churches for his well-being and apologized to Governors for barring them from visits to him while he rested in London.

“I didn’t want government to move to London. I wanted it to remain here and I am glad it did,” he said.

Despite the governors asking he takes more time to rest, Buhari insisted that he would remain relentless in the pursuit of the interest of the Nigerian people at all times.

After narrating what he went through while on that vacation, Buhari noted the suggestion by the Governors for him to add more rest, but

Buhari said being relentless in his duty was the only way to show his gratitude to the people, he said, “had given so much to me.  I was overwhelmed by the celebration of my return all across the country.”