Workers sack, salary cuts loom in states - Nigerian Governors Forum

Governors of Nigeria’s 36 states rose from a meeting in Abuja late on Wednesday with a strong indication that workers may have to be sacked and salaries cut, so that the states would not become bankrupt, given the current economic realities. The governors, who met under the auspices of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, expressed worry that more states may not be able to pay workers’ salaries if the revenue of the country continues to be on the decline. Chairman of the Forum , Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara state, who indicated this while briefing newsmen on the resolutions of the meeting, said that the forum discussed the economy and resolved to look for means to enhance states internally generated revenues as well to cut overhead cost, especially the salaries of political office holders. The governor said the forum also resolved to diversify the country’s economy from petroleum to agriculture and mining.

“The situation is no longer the same when we are used to pay N18, 000 minimum wage when oil was 126 dollars; now oil price is 41 dollars. “We are coming together in a roundtable with President Buhammadu Buhari and his team of ministers, technocrats, economic experts to see how we can tackle our situation,’’ he said Yari said that the governors had also resolved to hold a roundtable with all stakeholders to articulate a robust strategy to tackle the deplorable economic situation in the country.


Also, in an interview with newsmen, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state said the economic situation was worrisome as more states would reach a stage where they would not be able to pay salaries. “I believe that is the same situation with the Federal Government,’’ Okowa said. He said that there was a need to look into the salaries of political office holders and other salaries. “It is not a situation of being able to run government now. Most states are not able to pay salaries not to talk of capital projects. “If we cannot fund capital development, then the rest of Nigerians are just shut out of government. “Those of us in government, both politicians and civil servants are possibly not more than five per cent of the entire population of Nigerian. “What will happen to the other 95 per cent? What happens to infrastructure? Can we talk about industry without infrastructure?’’

Okowa asked. Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on his part, said there was no way the country could continue with a situation where expenditure was more than income. He said that very soon many states would be technically declared bankrupt and added that there might be need for another bailout fund for states as they were running on deficit every month. “We are faced with a situation where we either have to reduce cost through salary reduction or downsize. “All these we don’t want to do but prefer to have a roundtable with the president, ministers, economists to look for means of getting out of this problem,’’ Ajimobi said. Meanwhile, the governors have also thrown their weight behind the Workers sack, salary cuts loom in states FG orders audit of highprofile corruption cases Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC) regarding the $5.2billion (about N1.04trillion) fine it imposed on MTN, and called on the Federal Government to compel GSM operator to pay up.