Following the mixed reactions over the N10 billion Paris Club refund recently released by the Federal Government to the Akwa Ibom State Government, an elder statesman Chief Nduese Essien has dismissed the agitations that the entire fund should be channeled to salaries and pensions.
Speaking in a radio interview in Uyo, the Eket Senatorial Leader of PDP said if all the money that comes into government is being used to pay salaries, gratuities, pension and recurrent expenses of the government, what happens to those who are not in government? How many people are in government?”
Essien, a former lawmaker said, “we should also be considering the fact that there are many others who are self employed, there are those who are not even employed and others working for private companies.
He explained that funds originally kept for pensioners were squandered by some persons in the controversial pensions fraud in the country, and advised people not to heap the blames of the woes on the state government, which in this case is only intervening to ameliorate the situation.
“Less than 20 per cent of the population are engaged working for government. So we should be able to apportion revenue of government to also reach the people who are not working for government.”
The former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said that “apart from payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities, the money can be applied for the development and restoration of the infrastructure which is what everybody would benefit from.
“When the infrastructure is developed, there is a possibility that businesses would run better. Instead of companies having to provide their electricity, water, road to their factories, etc, this would be a big relief to the private sector and they can be more effective in managing their businesses.”
—
Would you like to be receiving ALL Elombah.com news links ‘On The Go’ on WhatsApp? If yes, please provide us your WhatsApp number via publisher@elombah.com or inbox +2349050382526 and you are ready to go!
© Copyright 2017 www.elombah.com; unless otherwise indicated, all images are courtesy of Twitter; send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter @Elombah; like our Facebook page: Elombah.com; join us on WhatsApp HERE
For advert placement call us on +447460770987, +2349050382526
