Governors of the 36 States of the federation have told the Federal Government to desist from presenting the refunds being made to them from the Paris Club as a favour.
The governors, who rose from the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja expressed concern over the continued delay in the release of the second tranche of Paris Club refund.
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting, alongside governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, said the refunds belonged to the states. “Let it not be seen as if the Paris Club is a favour done to states.
These are money belonging to states. So, what we are saying is that it was illegally taken about 12 years ago. So, we are only asking that the money be refunded to us,” Lalong noted. The Plateau State governor explained that release of the first tranche of the Paris Club refund assisted in taking the country slowly out of recession.
NEC, which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also ordered for a comprehensive audit of the ecological fund.
The Federal Government, in December 2016, released the first tranche of the Paris Club refund to the states. According to statistics from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), the release of the first tranche, representing up to 25 per cent of claims, being N522.7 billion commenced in December 2016.
The second tranche of the Paris Club refund is about N522 billion. The governors further constituted an ad hoc committee to draw up recommendations on how the funds would be subsequently managed. Obiano, in his remarks, said the decision followed a briefing from Accountant General of the Federation.
The committee for the audit of the ecological fund comprises Oyo, Borno, Imo, Kaduna, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom governors, Ministers of Finance and Environment.
Speaking on the audit of the ecological fund, Obiano said it was worrisome why the funds have been stagnant for several months.
“With respect to why the committee was set up, to look at the balance, the actual word isn’t to audit it, but to re-establish that the balance is the correct balance because it’s been standing like that for a couple of months. We will address that and the committee will brief NEC at the next meeting,” he said.
The Anambra State governor said the Minister of Finance also gave updates on preparations for the disbursement of the next round of Paris Club disbursements after the first disbursement.
He conveyed the governors’ appreciation for the president’s intervention in the previous disbursement of the funds while noting their expectation for the next round of the refund. The governor said Council also received briefing from Minister of Finance on the Excess Crude Account which, he said, stands at $2.2 billion as at April 26.
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, also briefed NEC on the performance of the Efficiency Unit recently established by the Federal Government. According to Lalong, Adeosun told council that the establishment of the efficiency unit has been able to save the federal government a whooping N17 billion since it was set up.
NEC was briefed by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole that 9,646 suspected cases of meningitis were recorded in six states since the outbreak of the disease. The minister informed NEC members that a total of N46 billion was needed to effectively vaccinate the valuable population against meningitis.
The Health Minister informed council on the need for the establishment of a National Health Emergency Fund to be domiciled under the Presidency.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) also briefed Council on the security situation in the country, particularly as it has to do with conflict between armed herdsmen and farmers in Kaduna, Taraba and Benue states. NSA told Council that security agencies have commenced a nationwide crackdown on armed herdsmen, gun runners, cattle rustlers, militants, militias and others perpetrators of violence.
New Telegraph
