The Government of
Plateau state under Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has declared that its financial
books are open for scrutiny and investigation by anti graft agency over alleged
mismanagement of Paris Club loan refund by 35 state governors saying it has no
skeletons in its cupboard over the fund received by the state.
It would be recalled
that a human rights advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project, has urged the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate legal
proceedings against 35 state governors, who allegedly diverted or mismanaged
the N388.3bn London Paris Club loan refunds.
Apparently reacting to
the inclusion of Plateau State among states that mismanaged the fund, the State
Governor, Barrister Simon Lalong who spoke through his aide, Special Adviser on
Media, Hon. Dan Manjang told journalists that the money was judiciously
utilized contrary to the insinuation in some quarters.
According to him, the
state government received $74,756,013.98 (Being 50% of State and LGAs) with its
Naira equivalent of N10, 497,000,000.00. The State got N6, 304,498,200.00 and
LGAs N4, 192,501,800.00 representing 60.06% and 39.94 %, respectively.
He said the money was
used for arrears of 3 months civil servants salaries, arrears of 7 months
pensions adding that there was a shortfall of N1.4 billion which the state
government had to borrow to complement.
“It is mischievous to
include Plateau State among states that mismanaged the fund. What we used the
money for had further helped to stabilize the state, the civil servants are
happy. The benefits go to the entire state.
“Because of the action
of the governor, especially on the judiciously use of the money, Governor
Lalong was recently nominated as the chairman of Good Governance of Progressive
Forum. You can’t earn the leadership of the group if you don’t lead well” he
said.
The Special Adviser on
Media said because of the magnanimity of the governor some of his colleagues
are not happy with him adding that for the first time in a very long time the
state is not owing and at the same time paid January 2017 salary on 25th of the
same month.
He further disclosed that the government has
commenced compilation of gratuity arrears adding that this would be paid as
soon as fund is available.
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