by Azeez Adeniyi

The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Government to suspend payment of bailout funds to states still owing salaries.

The lawmakers asked the Federal Government to demand how the governors spent previous bailouts before granting a new one.

Senator Dino Melaye, while seconding a motion by Suleiman Nazif urged the Federal Government to suspend issuance of bailout to states whose governors owed salaries.

[Read Also: APPROVE BAILOUT FOR FG’S N174BN PENSION ARREARS, SENATE URGES BUHARI]

He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari, in his wisdom, gave a bailout to governors and state governments to ameliorate and palliate the sufferings of Nigerian workers. I recall that the President addressed the nation and specifically said the bailout was for the payment of salaries arrears.

“The first set of bailouts was given to governors. Again, a second set of bailouts was given to state governments. As if that was not enough, Paris Club (loan) refund was also released to state governments.”

Melaye added that public higher institutions in Kogi State had been shut for over four months due to strike embarked upon over non-payment of salaries.

[Read Also: “HOW GOVERNOR LOST $10M BAILOUT FUNDS TO MISTRESS”]

He added, “This is the same with some other states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria despite the releases of Bailout 1, Bailout 2 and Paris Club refund. My agony and pain is that the President, two weeks ago, said he had approved the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund. We have to, as a chamber and the true representatives of the people, speak on their behalf.

“If these governors, including my governor, got Bailout 1, Bailout 2 and Paris Refund 1, yet did not pay salaries; if they get the second tranche of the Paris Club refund, they will still not pay salaries. How do we then compel them to become responsible and responsive to the magnanimity shown by Mr. President? It is to make sure that we use our oversight responsibility and constitutional powers to direct the Federal Ministry of Finance to stop the second tranche of the Paris Club refund to state governors who have not paid salaries. The essence of these bailouts was actually to pay salaries, arrears and pensions.”

Senator Emmanuel Paulker lamented that the condition of Nigerian workers was “pitiable.”

He said the N18,000 minimum wage was inadequate, considering the current economic situation in the country.

He said, “If you go to the pensioners, it is even worse. It is a wallowing experience. When you look at the states, almost all the states of the federation are unable to pay workers their monthly wages. Where there is a case of 15 months, the average is about six to 10 months. I think this chamber has to come up with a definite proposal to see that workers’ wages are paid as and when due.

“The situation where bailouts were given for the singular purpose of paying workers’ salaries and they are diverted; I agree with Senator Dino that if particular governor has not used the money for that purpose, the Federal Government should not give the second tranche to that particular state. But in so doing, it is not the governor who will suffer; it is his workers who were intended to be helped who would suffer.”