‘States yet to get Federal Government’s N804.7bn bailout’

After over six weeks of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of N804.7 billion lifelines for states, none of the 36 states of the federation has received ‎a share of the fund from the Federal Government.

The bailout fund meant to assist cash-strapped states to pay their workers several months of arrears of salaries was approved by Buhari early July.

Recall that the President had okayed a three-pronged relief package, including sharing of fresh allocations, granting of soft loans and restructuring of states’ debt-servicing payments.

At the moment, 12 states are owing their workers more than N110 billion. The most affected states are Osun, Kogi, Benue, Ondo, Rivers, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Plateau, and Bauchi.

But speaking in Abuja at the weekend, Yomi Awoniyi, deputy governor of Kogi State, disclosed that none of the 36 states had received ‎a share of the fund.

Awoniyi disclosed this to journalists in Abuja shortly after submitting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the November 21 governorship poll in Kogi State, on behalf of the governor, Idris Wada.

The deputy governor, who represented his principal at last week’s National Economic Council meeting in Abuja, said Vice President Yomi Osinbajo had assured that the funds would be released very soon.

The funds, he said, would go a long way in granting succour to states, especially those owing workers’ salaries.

“Authoritatively, I can tell you I had the good fortune of representing my boss at the (NEC) meeting and we have not received it (bailout funds). Like any other state, no state has received but like the Vice President did say, work is in top gear to ensure that states begin to receive very, very soon because Nigerians are clamouring for some succour; for some relief.

“So, the bailout funds will go a very long way to grant everybody that,” he said.

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE