Chidi Samuel || President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at the meeting with National Council of Traditional Rulers expressed displeasure with State governors handing of the Paris club refund to states and their inability to pay workers and pensioners their entitlements.
The President, who regretted that some workers were being owed up to six months salary pleaded with the governors to pay their workers and pensioners.
He said, “We have to digress this much because I would like to convince you that I’m living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people.
“There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.
“I’m appealing to the governors, (that was why we voted money, we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ he said.
The President who said he would have gone into exile if things had not improved in the country, pledged that his administration would continue to do its best in executing developmental projects to uplift the standard of living of all Nigerians irrespective of their geopolitical backgrounds.
He noted with delight that the country would be witnessing bumper harvest across the country, this year.
He continued, “We are lucky, last year and this year, the rainy season was good. If it were not good, I’m confiding in you, which country shall I run to? But God answered the prayers of most Nigerians.
“The rainy season last year was good, this year, from the reports I’m getting, it is good. We thank God for that, only God can do that for us otherwise there would have been lot of problems in this country.
The meeting which took place at the banquet hall of the Presidential villa was attended by traditional rulers from the six geopolitical zones.