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From: Rose Ejembi, Makurdi The Benue State Government has confirmed that it received the sum of N6. 4 billion from the Federal Government as its own share of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund. Acting Governor Engr. Benson Abounu disclosed this while briefing newsmen, on Tuesday, at the end of the state Executive Council Meeting held at the Government House, Makurdi. He, however, noted that although the state was expecting over N12 billion of the refund in the second tranche, only half of the money was leased to the state. “I wish to inform you that we expected over N12 billion as second tranche of the refund, but only half of the amount was released by federal government due to paucity of funds.” He also assured that the money would be judiciously utilised for the payment of salaries. Abounu also said that the Paris Club money would not truncate or interfere with the on-going staff verification exercise by the committee on payment of salary. “We will continue with the ongoing staff verification exercise and the modified table payment of salary to state workers. Already, discrepancies have been discovered in the salaries received by workers so far.” On the Benue State University (BSU) ASUU strike, the acting governor explained that the state government has engaged in meaningful discussion, saying that the matter would soon been resolved. He also assured that the university would soon resume to enable students return to campus and continue with their academic pursuit. |