President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N713.7billion
intervention funds to state governments to pay
workers’ salaries.
The bailout is part of a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers’ plight, The Nation newspaper reported.
In
the package are N413.7billion special intervention funds and the
balance of about N250billion to N300billion, which is a soft loan to
states.
The N413.7bn ($2.1billion) is sourced from the recent LNG
proceeds and the remaining N300 billion is a Central Bank-packaged
special intervention fund.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) is also expected to assist states to restructure over N660billion commercial loans.
With the development, deductions from monthly allocations to states at source, have been stopped.
The
beneficiaries of the relief package include workers in Federal
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who have remained unpaid for
many months.
According to sources, the President took the
decision to boost the purchasing power of Nigerians, especially average
and low-income earners, and to reflate the economy.
The sources
said: “In his resolve to put an end to the lingering crisis of unpaid
workers’ salaries in the country especially in many states, President
Muhammadu Buhari has approved a comprehensive relief package designed to
save the situation.
“Specifically,the President has okayed a three-pronged relief package that will end the workers’ plight.
The
sources said the bailout will take immediate effect from this week to
ensure stability in all the states of the Federation and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT).
“The packages that have now been approved
by President Buhari is expected to go into effect this week as the
President is said to have directed that release of the funds should be
made as soon as possible to assuage the plight of thousands of Nigerian
workers in the federal and state governments.”
Source:PM News

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