President Muhammadu Buhari has directed his key finance officers to sit down with representatives of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, to determine how much of their unpaid debts can be released to them before Christmas.

This is in response to pleas by governors, who came to the State House on Monday under the leadership of Mr Abdul-Aziz Yari, Chairman of the Forum asking that the President give a commitment to pay all outstanding debts owed them from London and Paris Club deductions to ease their financial hardships.

Mr Buhari said he was not averse to the payments so long as the treasury can afford it and the economy will not be destabilised, a statement from his office said Monday.

The governors informed the president that they wanted his commitment on the repayment so that they could factor the money into their 2018 appropriation plans.

In his reaction, the president said that the issues affecting the States were familiar to him.

“I will not be saying much because the responsible ministers are here: Finance, Budget and Planning and the Central Bank of Nigeria. I request you to appoint your own team to come and sit down with them.

“This should be done, not only for next year’s budget but for this Christmas. Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning and the Central Bank should sit down with you in a sub-committee to see how much can be released before Christmas.

“For Nigerians without sources other than their salary, I am concerned that workers should be able to pay rent, school fees, buy drugs and take care of their families. I am so much concerned that people should have something to eat for Christmas.”

A statement by Buhari’s spokesperson, Mr Garba Shehu, said following the presentation by other Governors – Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna; Rauf Aregbosola, Osun; Udom Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom State and Rochas Okorocha, Imo State “took turns to commend the President for caring for the States and their workers; for his equal treatment of the States irrespective of political party differences and for approving these refunds to the States going back to 2015 which according to them, “previous leaders chose not to give attention to.”

PT