The Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, has said that some of the commercial banks are frustrating the efforts of the government to assess the bailout from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Lalong however said that though the state had not received the bailout, it had been able to settle five months out of the eight months arrears of salary of public servants.
The governor spoke on Sunday at a dinner he hosted as part of activities marking his 100 days in office.
Lalong, who did not mention the names of the banks, said that at the point the government was finalising arrangements to get the funds, one of the banks wrote to CBN to say the state government had not reconciled it accounts.
He said that this was after the government had got the approval of the state House of Assembly and also signed the Irrevocable Payment Standing Order.
The governor however assured the people that the challenges had been overcome while the bailout would be received before the end of the week.
He said, “We were at the point of collecting the money when the bank said we have not reconciled with them. But I know that we have finished all the reconciliation with them. However, despite the fact that we have not received the funds, we have been able to settle five months salary arrears and we hope that by the time we receive the bailout, the issue of salary arrears would be a thing of the past.”
Lalong also explained why he sacked some permanent secretaries, demoted some and appointed others.
The governor said that the exercise was to restore sanity into the civil service.
He said prior to his assumption of office, civil service rules were not observed in promotions and appointments, adding that in some instances junior members of staff were promoted over their seniors, adding that this led to disenchantment in the civil service.
(Punch)
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