What next: Wisdom Ehdigiator– The President in his magnanimity has decided to bail out the states that are owing their worker’s salaries This is commendable and a display of fatherliness from the President to the various governors.
However, the question that stares us in the face is; what is the fate of those states after this presidential intervention? Are the states going to continue to depend on Buhari for further interventions and rescue missions? What is the plan of the individual governors for their state?
It is said that to whom ‘much is given, much is expected.’ The state governors must recognize that this is a unique help rendered to the states by the government and it is imperative that the Governors judiciously employ this fund.
Also, the state governors must be responsible and think of creative ventures that they can employ to generate revenue for their states. It is only a spoilt child that continues to depend on his parents,’ after attaining maturity. The governors must become proactive, innovative and versatile in terms of revenue generation and infrastructural development.
The governors should not continue to expect interventions and bail-outs intermittently from the president. The governors should sober up and intelligently maximize their unique situations in their states and generate feasible platforms for internal revenue generation.
Ewemie Emmanuel: No excuse for mismanagement – The financial relief granted states by the Buhari led administration, shows to a large extent that the “change government,” has the welfare and the well being of the Nigerian workers at heart.
However, the state governors and local councils are to understand that this kind of gesture as expressed by the President, does not come often and therefore, it should not be a means for mis-management especially as the federal government are not supposed to intervene on issues that solely concern state governments.
Financial leakages should be checked and properly handled as this leads to not being able to account for expenditures. Also ghost workers in the civil service should be checked out because, some self-centered persons use that as a means to collect government funds and at the end, some sectors get to be paid and others are not paid due to shortage of money.
It is very wrong for governmental personnel, to use the money meant for workers, for his/her own personal interest. One of the reasons behind delayed salaries of workers could be traced to the just concluded general elections. Funds meant for state workers are to be used in satisfying the workers just as the bible says a labourer deserves his wages. These funds are not to be channeled into campaigns of elections and running of elections. It is absolutely wrong and this act must be corrected.
I therefore admonish, that governments in different states irrespective of party, should put the interest of the people especially civil servants first before personal interest. Because it’s these electorates that voted the Governors into power and they can only return their favour by providing their benefits as at when due.
Duru Chimaobi Innocent: States must exercise caution – It is indeed sad that in a country like Nigeria where states are meant to be independently capable of meeting the payment options of their workers after receiving their own fair share of the national allocation, are not able to do so because of corruption, mismanagement and other misappropriation of funds which render them ‘broke’ hence incapable of paying workers’ salaries.
Does a worker commit a crime by telling his employe to pay him for his services? Where did these diligent and hardworking Nigerian workers go wrong? Is it not only adequate that worker is duely paid for his hard labour?
These civil servants are family men and women who are solely dependent on the salary they receive to cater for their family and take care of their immediate needs. So what happens when they do not receive their pay? They are greeted each day after work with sad faces at home who have neither had little nor anything to eat and yet faced with the prospect of another foodless night. Who knows? The landlord might have come to remind the unpaid worker of his impending rent. The children might have dropped out of school for lack of money. All these adding to the mental stress level of the unpaid civil servant. Can the state move forward with these kind of psychologically battered individuals running its affairs? No!
However, having heard the cries of these workers, the Federal Government decided to come to their aid. President Buhari has made available over N800 billion to help service the needs of unpaid salaries across the state.
But then, caution must be applied, so that the issue of corruption and misappropriation of funds does not make this allotted money go down the drain again.
Juliet Akhimien: They should not relent in fund creation – The recent release of N800 billion to indebted states by the federal government of Nigeria is indeed a welcome development, as the fund will enable the state to pay up arrears of salaries owed their workers.
However, state governments should not see this as a reason to relent in fund creation. They should not relax and wait for this type of manner to fall from heaven. After all, these workers rendered their services to the public and before now, there are prepared means through which they are expected to run workers salaries.
They should not also see this as a reason to squander money. The fund is meant to pay workers and not to be given as loan to farmers whose produce we never get to see. The fund should not be navigated to the rich while workers wait in vain.
That the federal government decides to be lenient enough to help doesn’t mean that this act of laxity by the indebted states will continue to be tolerated.
In a nutshell, state governments should be prudent in managing public fund. This will help to reduce hardship in the country and also give people reasons to serve the government.
Ebhohimen Sarah: Welcome Development – That the Federal Governments has provided a lifeline to enable these state government pay their workers salary is a welcome development. However one question to be asked is, what happens when this money is expended? Hence the state governments must first ensure that the money is spent prudently.
The inability of states to pay their workers salaries is likely as a result of a breach in the flow of federal government allocation. Therefore, defaulting state governments should emulate their counterparts in Lagos State, Edo State, Delta State and so on; who notwithstanding the so called cash crunch still paid their workers salaries consistently.
At this state, flamboyance and extravagance should be in check so these debts will be paid off and these states and the country in general can move forward.
Sandra Erhabor: Laudable – The action taken by President to cushion the plight in the country is a laudable development. It was taken to serve as a life boat to rescue the indebted states in Nigeria, whose governments have subjected their workers to work for ‘free’ for several months.
The fund is the proceeds from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
State government should realize that no sector has ever learnt to fly with its workers wallowing in want and abject neglect.
The fund should be judiciously channeled to the right direction, to combat poverty to a large extent, and not the usual disappearance into some unknown bank accounts.
Omorodion Ruth: Rescue Mission – President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed proven to have the interests of the citizens at heart as he recently came to the rescue of the eighteen state governments who have been owing their workers over N110 billion in salaries. He did this by releasing over N800 billion to help bankrupt states of which States affected by this plight are Abia, Akwa-Ibiom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, and Zamfara respectively.
This issue became one of national concern as workers in the affected states, who are supposed to be catered for, have been owed salaries for several months due to state governments’ failure.
However, it is pertinent to note that some states like Delta, Lagos, Edo, etc, are not amongst the affected states as they are up-to-date with their workers’ salaries.
Furthermore, this favour granted by the President to bankrupt states should be utilized appropriately and solely for the purpose it was given. State governors should ensure that workers’ complaints of non-payment of salaries becomes a thing of the past.
In addition, motivation is very important for efficiency, and for workers to be motivated, their salaries and wages need to be paid adequately. Therefore, state governments should ensure they motivate their workers through adequate payment of workers’ salaries.
Israelmore Ayivor wrote; it’s unfair to see managers buying brand new cars for themselves when the salaries of their workers still remain unpaid! Good leaders are not selfish thinkers!”Therefore, the fact that the president generously offered support to the financially bankrupt states, should not in any way be an avenue for repetition or continuity of such act.
David J. Greer also wrote, “Make Yourself Accountable and your employees will hold themselves to a high standard.” Therefore, state governors need to be accountable to their workers by paying them as at when due. Denying a worker his/her right to earning salary is the worst thing an employer can do to an employee. Hence, these governors need to be cautioned, and should also be prudent in their spending, so as to avoid owing any worker his/her salary again. This favor granted by the president should be held in high esteem and not lavished.
Not a sign of weakness – Sagay
Professor Sagay, described the bail out as a welcome development, saying! “Since they are owing salaries and all state have a share in the excess crude oil account and because they are in a desperate situation, I think it is a welcome decision.”
The legal icon, however, dismissed the notion that the bailout is a sign of weakness on the part of the president “people believe in extremism but to be strong does not mean that you have to lack any feelings for people. He (Buhari) must be thinking of thousands of workers, who have not been paid for six months.”
It is imperative for Nigeria’s survival – Utomi On his part, Professor Pat Utomi said the bailout for states is imperative for the economic survival of the country. His words.
“It is important to recognize that without such bailout, the economy will be in danger as there will be no spending going on while those offering services will be unable to offer anything. The bailout is very important for the economy.
Besides, he said “this development should now make government impose conditionality that will stop mismanagement and unnecessary spending.”
Priority needs to be set right – Ajule LP scribe
On its part, the Labour Party, which accused the state governors of allegedly mismanaging resources meant to run the states, advised that the bailout fund must be judiciously spent.
LP National Secretary, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, said: “priority needs to be set right on the granting and usage of the bailout. It is unfortunate that governors, most of whom operate flamboyantly and mismanaged their states resources are begging for bailout. Salaries have to be paid, therefore the bailout must come with a condition that the money must be used to offset.
Oshiomhole should be commended – Pius Osagiede – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomohole deserves commendation for his faithfulness in regular payment of workers, salaries despite the lean resources of the state. He has demonstrated that with prudent management of resources, a lot can be achieved. Other governors should ask him how he is doing it. Edo does not get one quarter of what some defaulting states are getting from the federation account
