It’s disgraceful states can’t pay salaries, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari  yesterday described as disgraceful that two-thirds of state governments can’t pay workers’ salaries.

He also vowed to leave no stone unturned to rid Nigeria of fraud and corruption.

The President told State House workers who gathered at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa to welcome him back from his vacation; that those who take whatever does not belong to them will be made to face prosecution.

He said: “27 out of the 36 states cannot pay salaries. This is a disgrace to Nigeria. It is a disgrace up till now that most of the states cannot pay salaries. What happened to all we have gotten over the years? We look up and down, left, right and centre, what have we saved? There was nothing because we developed a consumption culture that we were not supposed to develop. Most of your colleagues that have left service, I doubt if they are getting benefits. That is the situation we find ourselves in.”

Noting that the military had made remarkable improvement against insurgency in the northeast, he observed that militants in the Niger Delta are bent on destroying oil installations.

He said: “Unfortunately, the other unstable part of the country, the Niger Delta, with their myriads of organizations that are competing over which one can do more damage to the country and the oil companies and oil wells. For how long are we going to do this?”

He said “all fraud must stop. If they don’t believe us, they should go try and see those we caught red-handed with public funds. This will continue as long as this leadership is here.

“Whoever takes anything that does not belong to him or that he is not entitled to, it will be documented and the person will be taken to court. This is the only way I think we can bail ourselves out.

“I am asking you to dedicate yourselves more to your country because I said more than 30 years ago, that there is no other country we can call our home, but Nigeria.” He said

“We are determined to rehabilitate our country for the sake of our children and our grandchildren. I have never in my life from class monitor to this place, twice in different forms, believed in corruption.

“But we won’t touch anybody who did not touch public funds, you should behave yourself. If you don’t have houses in Abuja and the whole of Europe, you will sleep soundly. You and your family will earn respect. But if you shortchange the treasury, you will be caught and I pity your family because people will be abusing them.

“People will be calling you big thieves that how did you raise money to build all the houses in Abuja and Europe with your meagre salary. I think personal integrity is something to be encouraged. I assure you that I am absolutely dedicated to serving Nigeria. Those who behave themselves will never regret,” he added.

He noted that one of the greatest challenges his administration is facing is not meeting any savings despite the huge income from sale of oil before it crashed to as low as $30 per barrel.

Speaking on the power situation, he said there has been virtually no improvement in the sector since 1999 despite the billions of naira spent. “Look at power, how much did we spend on power? From barbers to factories, shops, we all depend on power. There is virtually no improvement from 1999 till now no matter how many billions they have spent.”

According to him, the immediate alternative to revamp the economy is to embrace agriculture and the solid minerals sectors.

On his vacation, he said: “I thank you for welcoming me back from my health break. You are the judges, perhaps I look healthier than I left or I came back worse.”

Permanent Secretary (State House), Jalal Arabi: said: “We are here to welcome you back from your well-deserved vacation.

He prayed for good health, God’s guidance and wisdom to continue to lead the nation.