N3.9bn Paris Club refund ‘ll be used to pay salary arrears -Fayemi

By Musa Adamu

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has announced that his government would use the N3.9 billion received as the last tranche of its Paris Club refund for salary arrears payment.
A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, indicated that as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the N3.3billion was also deducted and paid as outstanding 2016- 2018 counterpart fund for Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) being owed by the state.
It said the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has directed that the N3.9billion Paris Club refund be applied to pay one month of outstanding arrears to state and local government workers, teachers and pensioners, in line with his promise to Ekiti workers and people.
According to a statement, the Paris Club refund was received following President Mohammadu Buhari’s intervention in the matter, after Governor Fayemi’s last week visit to the President.
It disclosed that Governor Fayemi expressed appreciation to the President for the timely intervention, having assured workers in the state that his administration would explore all avenues to clear the five to eight months’ salary arrears owed workers in the state by the immediate past administration, within a reasonable period.
It recalls that Dr Fayemi, had while fielding questions during the monthly “Meet Your Governor” programme on television and radio last week re-assured workers that he was yet to receive the Paris Club refund, adding that he would make it public once the state received the payment.
It said Governor Fayemi had however assured workers in the state that his administration would not owe them salaries, adding that he would clear outstanding salaries for all categories of workers within one year.