President Muhammadu Buhari has described the inability of 27 of the 36 state governments of the federation to pay the salaries of their workers as “a disgrace to Nigeria”.
Buhari, while addressing staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, expressed concern that in spite of the initial bailout funds made available to some states, their workers had yet to receive their salaries.
“The matter that may shock you is that 27 out of the 36 states couldn’t pay salaries.
“This is a disgrace to Nigeria; is a disgrace. Up till now, some of the states cannot pay salaries.
“What happened to all we have been getting all this time? We looked left, right, centre, up and down and said; any saving? There was nothing, because we developed a consumption that we were not supposed to develop.’’
The president, therefore, advised the states to diversify their sources of revenue generation to boost their financial positions.
He pledged that his administration’s ongoing war against corruption would be vigorously sustained, to rid the country of the debilitating effects of “wanton looting” of public funds in past years.
“I have never in my life, from class monitor to here for the second time in different forms, believed in corruption.
“If we make any mistake in what we are doing and compromise our integrity, the country will be further dragged back.
“We will not touch anybody who did not touch public funds. If you behave yourself, you may not have houses in Abuja or in Europe or in America, but you will sleep soundly; your children and families will enjoy respect.’’
The president reiterated the determination of his administration to stop all forms of fraud in the country.
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