Governors kick against $138m consultants’ fees

There is disquiet among governors over a plan to pay some consultants $138 million (about N42.2b at the official N306 to $1) of the $6.9 billion Paris-London Club loan refund.

Besides, The Nation learnt at the weekend that: the Presidency is unhappy that local governments did not get their right share of the hefty refund; and some states are still owing local government workers as many as 10 months’ salaries; others are owing six months.

Non-payment of salaries and pensions is considered a breach of the agreement between the Presidency and the governors.

The Presidency has released N1,266.44 trillion to the 36 states in the past one and a half years. The cash includes N713.70billion special intervention funds.

Some governors are displeased that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) plans to pay 2% of the $6.9billion refund to consultants.

The 2 per cent is $138,000,000 (N42.228billion at the official rate of N306 to $1).

According to a governor, who spoke in confidence, NGF Chairman Abdulaziz Yari, who is also the governor of Zamfara State, conveyed the agreement to pay 2 per cent to some consultants in a July 29, 2016 letter to the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

The Nation, April 10, 2017

 

 

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