APC Govs Ask Buhari for Bailout, Say States Can’t Pay Salaries

The grim economic situation in the country was brought to the fore yesterday by governors and governors-elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Chief Rochas Okorocha, painted a picture of desperation in several states that have not been able to pay workers salaries.

Okorocha, who led his colleagues to meet with Buhari in Abuja, informed journalists at the end of the meeting that the terrible state of the economy had put the payment of April salaries of workers in jeopardy.

“One of the issues that became of concern to all of us is the state of the Nigerian economy which is really in a bad shape. We have come to notify the incoming president of the challenges ahead of him.

“As it stands today, most states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries and even the federal government has not paid April salaries and that is very worrisome, by May and June, the unpaid salaries will be in cumulative of three months,” he said.

On behalf of the state governors, Okorocha pleaded with the incoming administration to consider implementing measures that could bailout federal and state governments from the critical situation to at least enable them meet their salary obligations to workers.

“We wonder with the huge expectation from Nigerians and people who have voted us into power, we are hoping that the president-elect will do all the things that are humanly possible to bring about a bailout not only for the states but the federal government, at least for people to get their salaries and turn around the economy.

“We have seen the reason to work together and support Mr. President and we have also called on all our brothers in other political parties to come along with us to build the Nigeria of our dream,” he said.

Okorocha also informed Buhari that they had come to congratulate Buhari on his electoral victory, stating: “We have come to congratulate Mr. President on a well-deserved victory knowing that this victory, the change we’ve all been waiting for must only be dedicated to ordinary citizens of Nigeria who stood up and voted accordingly.”

On whether the governors offered suggestions to the president-elect on the measures he should take to turn around the economy in the shortest possible time, Okorocha said: “What we have done so far is to inform him about it (the economic situation) and we gave useful suggestions.

“I think Mr. President (Buhari) will come up with a knowledgeable team that can arrest the ugly situation as promised.”

The Imo State governor however said the issue of power sharing and ministerial appointments did not come in their meeting with Buhari, adding that all they did was to congratulate the presidentelect and to remind him of the daunting economic challenges ahead.

“That is too early to discuss, but as a party, we shall all work together to make sure the equitable distribution of positions and infrastructure in Nigeria.

“We came here to pay a courtesy call on the presidentelect, who will be sworn in on the 29th of this month as the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to familiarise ourselves, both the governors-elect and returning governors,” he said.

While responding to the governors concern, Buhari said the incoming APC administration will definitely find a better way to address the issues raised.

He assured the governors that there will be special measures to cushion the current economic crunch and help address the challenges in the payment of salaries.

Buhari lamented the poor state of the economy despite all the revenue Nigeria had earned from 1999 to date, urging Nigerians to be patient with the incoming government and to give it a chance to restructure the nation’s battered economy.

“Expectations are too high and I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day. If we can bring back the treasury to a reasonable state, the issue of insecurity and salaries not being paid will be addressed,” he said.

The president-elect said security remained his foremost agenda because if there is insecurity, there will be no development.