KUDOS TO BUHARI FOR BAILING OUT BANKRUPT STATES

7 July, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

KUDOS TO BUHARI FOR BAILING OUT BANKRUPT STATES

Debt-ridden states yesterday received a lifeline as the Federal Government opened its cash till to bail out workers owed a backlog of salary arrears in some states of the federation. The Federal Government approved the sum of N402 billion to settle outstanding salaries of workers at all levels.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) commends this move. It symptomises the actualization of the ‘change’ mantra for which the All Progressive Party (APC) rode into power. By bailing out state governments and enabling them to pay workers, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated that he is worker-friendly, sensitive to public opinion and willing to alleviate the suffering of the jamaheer (poor masses).

Contrary to what some mischievous elements want us to believe, the bankruptcy syndrome took the driver’s seat in about twelve states, not just one. Among the states affected are Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Plateau, Benue, Oshun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Oyo and Bauchi states.

MURIC is of the humble opinion that states would not have been dragged into this financial mess if ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had been prudent with the country’s funds. Involvement in white elephant projects, hobnobbing with notorious kleptomaniacs and drug barons, turning the blind eye to glaring cases of corruption and dipping fingers into the nation’s coffers to fund his extravagant second term campaign are responsible for the states’ financial woes.         

For the records, MURIC urges Nigerians to know where to direct their blame for Nigeria’s present economic downturn. Under President Jonathan, Nigeria made $81 billion annually from oil alone for five years with nothing to show for it. That is a whopping $405 billion!

Finally, we invite President Muhammadu Buhari to bring his past record in prudence, probity and accountability to bear in governing Nigeria. The Federal Government should do everything possible under the law to retrieve every single kobo stolen in the last dispensation. Something must also be done to the culprits in order to serve as deterrents in future. We charge Nigerians, particularly workers, to be patient with the new administration.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)