Governors of the 36 states have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to
share the tax of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to resolve the
financial crisis facing them.http://www.konga.com/?k_id=sirtee2k3
Over 20 states are currently unable to pay salaries as a result of a sharp fall in oil revenue.
“Instead
of NLNG paying $1.6 billion to the federal government, we requested
that it be paid to the federation account so that it could be shared
amongst the three tiers of government, so that we can also get money to
do one or two things,” Abdulazeez Yari, governor of Zamfara state and
chairman of the Nigerian governors forum, said at the end of a meeting
with Buhari on Tuesday.
“We proposed to Mr. President that
instead of being given bail out, that the funds for jobs, projects that
were done by the states should be refunded by the federal government.
If the affected states can get the refund, they can start paying
salaries without bail out.
“Secondly, we also brought to his
notice that most of the loans owed by the state, some between four and
seven years, if it can be stretched to 20 years, the states will be
relieved and would be able to continue other businesses including paying
salaries.
“Also, we urged the president to follow the
constitution when it comes to money sharing. Section 80 is very clear.
That all monies should go to the Consolidated Revenue Account for the
purpose, no account should be kept anywhere because this is what the
constitution says.
“And Section 162 also is self-explanatory,
that whatever is going to happen to the money will be after sharing to
the three tiers of government. That the NNPC or any other revenue
generating agency should not have the first line charges.”
Apart from the governors of Bayelsa and Plateau states, who were represented at the meeting, the other 34 governors attended.
http://www.thecable.ng/govs-ask-pmb-share-nlng-tax
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