Ekiti receives last tranche Paris Club refund

THE Ekiti State government on Thursday received N3.9 billion from the Federal Government as payment of the last tranche of its Paris Club refund.

A statement by the government, on Thursday, explained that the N3.9billion got to the state government after the Federal Government had deducted N3.3billion as outstanding 2016 – 2018 counterpart fund for Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) being owed by the state.

The statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, explained that “consequently, the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has directed that the N3.9billion Paris Club refund be applied to pay one month of outstanding arrears to state and local government workers, teachers and pensioners, in line with his promise to Ekiti workers and people.”

The statement added that “this will be done with augmentation from internal savings.”

According to the statement, “the Paris Club refund was received following President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention in the matter, after Governor Fayemi’s last week visit to the President.”

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He added that “Governor Fayemi expressed appreciation to the President for the timely intervention, having assured workers in the state that his administration would explore all avenues to clear the five to eight months salary arrears owed workers in the state by the immediate past administration, within a reasonable period.”

Dr Fayemi, had while fielding questions during the monthly ‘Meet Your Governor’ programme on television and radio last week re-assured workers that he was yet to receive the Paris Club refund, adding that he would make it public once the state received the payment.

The immediate past administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose had received a total N18.34 billion Paris Club refund in three tranches between December 2016 and December 2017, in addition to bailout funds, budget support funds and excess crude support, all totalling about N55 billion, but failed to utilise it on salary being owed workers and retirees.

The first tranche of the Paris Club refund totalling N8.87 billion was received in December 2016. The state also got N4.77 billion in July 2017 and another N4.7billion in December 2017.

Governor Fayemi has however assured workers in the state that his administration will not owe them salaries, adding that he would clear outstanding salaries for all categories of workers within one year.