FG Pays Benue State N14.9b Paris Club Refund

Governor Ortom Confirms Receipt Of Paris Club Refund From FG

The federal government has paid the sum of N14.9bn to the Benue State government as the last tranche of the Paris Club Refunds.

Mr Terver Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Makurdi.

80 per cent of the funds received, would be committed to payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, Naija News understands.

Akase also stated that a committee, headed by Deputy Governor Benson Abounu, has been set up to work out modalities for immediate disbursement of the funds.

Other members of the committee according to the Governor’s spokesperson are; the Head of Service, Commissioner for Finance, Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Adviser on Labour Matters.

Others are Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Union of Pensioners Benue State chapters.

He explained that other stakeholders in the disbursement of the funds were involved so as to ensure transparency and accountability.

“It will be recalled that the Governor similarly made public the receipt and disbursement of the N12.7 billion first tranche and N6.4 billion second tranche of the Paris Club refunds respectively.”

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, workers in the state are being owed between 6 and 12 months salaries.