Rising from a crucial meeting on that ended at the early hours of Thursday at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja under the umbrella of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, the governors said that the dwindling prices of oil had drastically affected their States’ income.

Specifically, they said that the burden of the wage was lighter when oil sold at $126 as against the current $41 per barrel.

They therefore sought to have audience with President Muhammadu Buhari on the economy, resolving that the only way out of the quagmire was to diversify the economy to agriculture and mining.

Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari hinted that the Forum also backed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N2.1trillion sanction on MTN.

According to him, the governors agreed that the fine must be paid in full.

He said that they received briefing from the Acting Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Dambata who explained the matter to them.

He said: “We resolved that we must look at ways to enhance revenue generation and at the same time look at ways to cut our overhead costs more especially the political office holders’ salaries and other overhead expenses.

“The situation is no longer the same when we were asked to pay N18,000 minimum wage, when oil price was $126 (per barrel) and continued paying N18,000 minimum wage when the oil is $41 and the source of government expenditure is from oil, and we have not seen prospects in the oil industry in the near future.

“We will diversify our economy in the area of agriculture and mining. But at the same time, we should understand our situation where some of us (states) today are taking N100million take home (monthly allocation) and then have salaries in particular of over N2billion to pay.

“We therefore agreed here to take this suggestion to NEC in our meeting tomorrow (Thursday) so that we can be able to find ways to tackle this problem.

“And we are looking at coming together to discussing with Mr. President and his team, with governors, technocrats and experts in the economy to see how we can tackle our troubled situation. We are working harder to deal with it.

“Hence the MTN has accepted that they committed the offense and has apologised, and they are looking for leniency, we the governors forum decided to support the NCC to abide by the laws of the land and the laws of our land do not not give leniency to deliberate offense to our nation.”

Yari also revealed that the forum also received a presentation from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) which will help in boosting mechanised agriculture and improve small and medium businesses especially in the rural communities.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/we-can-no-longer-pay-n18000-minimum-wage-govs-cry-out/

I miss fresh air #Gej

hmmm

But you can pay jumbo pay as salaries to law makers. Awon weyrey..........................................

The good thing about reality is that no matter how long propaganda stays. ..... reality must set in at the appropriate time.

Hello Nigerians ...... enjoy your change and never stop screaming 'sai buhari' while at it.

Apc lol chanji

Nigerians have truly been scammed with this CHANGE mantra......

But u spend more than 18k to fuel your car monthly, to feed your dogs monthly, to power your homes monthly, to drink beer monthly yet u can't pay those who survive on that same amount. I'm so ashamed to be in same country with these thieves.

and we keep going from 'worst' to 'worstest'. How did we get here?

We said it, APC and Buhari dnt have capacity to manage our economic,this is just the beginning.

I love buhari...but this is bad

And the change continues to spread...I never knew Nigeria is depending on MTN to pay their fine so that our government can fulfill it's obligation to the people...May God deliver us from this brand of change...SMH

Propaganda is turning negatively in the ZOO ;;;;

When some people canvers for change they taught that it will be bread and butter, but all is the same. My oga governors I beg u to finish what you started because we are in change.

APC is a badluck

This Xmas go dry pass Ileya in Nigeria. No more Yello Yello christmas. Enjoy the chanji.

I'm so scared for Nigerians. What is happening to us?

What happened to all the nonsense Osinbajo was spewing during election campaigns. In Kogi state yesterday he still spewed poo... "If you want promotion raise up your hands, then vote for APC in the coming governorship election.

KOGI state, my dear state, please don't be scammed.... They have nothing to offer.

anigbajumo:
Awon werey,see where they put eyes....."Hence the MTN has accepted that they committed the offense and has apologised, and they are looking for leniency, we the governors forum decided to support the NCC to abide by the laws of the land and the laws of our land do not not give leniency to deliberate offense to our nation.”

Thank God for MTN's fine, set of clueless governors...SMH

Pechilo:
When some people canvers for change they taught that it will be bread and butter, but all is the same. My oga governors I beg u to finish what you started because we are in change.

tope3x:
I love buhari...but this is bad

honestivo:
We said it, APC and Buhari dnt have capacity to manage our economic,this is just the beginning.

Monimatic:
Nigerians have truly been scammed with this CHANGE mantra......

Flets:
The good thing about reality is that no matter how long propaganda stays. ..... reality must set in at the appropriate time.
Hello Nigerians ...... enjoy your change and never stop screaming 'sai buhari' while at it.

Scarpon:
I miss fresh air #Gej

See the illiterates above!

So Buhari caused drop in prices of crude Oil From 126 Dollars to 41 Dollars a barrel?

If only your useless and corrupt Jonathan diversified the economy during the oil boom, we wouldnt have been in the mess, but rather he choose to loot and suck Nigeria's wealth dry!

Ediots

...But they can pay the legislooters and polithiefcians maximum wages abi? This govt is high on cow sh1t.

Criminal Governors are salivating over MTN fine.

Reading the communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Forum and governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari hinted that the Forum also backed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the N2.1trillion sanction on MTN.

According to him, the governors agreed that the fine must be paid in full.

NgeneUkwenu:


See the illiterates above!

So Buhari caused drop in prices of crude Oil From 126 Dollars to 41 Dollars a barrel?

If only your useless and corrupt Jonathan diversified the economy during the oil boom, we wouldnt have been in the mess, but rather he choose to loot and suck Nigeria's wealth dry!

Ediots

u be mumu o.. E get some things wey u suppose shame to talk.. I sure say if Buhari use gun kill jona. .u go still dey believe in am. ..at least accept the truth for once

A lot of self inflicted ignoramuses litter this thread.... Someone here even accused PMB of paying senators jumbo pay, and then such a person would expect a reasonable human to dignify him with a response?

virus05:
u be mumu o.. E get some things wey u suppose shame to talk.. I sure say if Buhari use gun kill jona. .u go still dey believe in am. ..at least accept the truth for once

Abeg,tell am.

NgeneUkwenu:


See the illiterates above!

So Buhari caused drop in prices of crude Oil From 126 Dollars to 41 Dollars a barrel?

If only your useless and corrupt Jonathan diversified the economy during the oil boom, we wouldnt have been in the mess, but rather he choose to loot and suck Nigeria's wealth dry!

Ediots

You and your illiterate president knew about the falling crude prices when he was making dumb campaign promises ..... no room for excuses.

If buhari can't deal with the heat, he should throw in the towel and leave the kitchen. Its not too early for him to own up to his lack of capacity.

Imagine your defence over government's dependence on MTN fine. This is a clear signal to the investment community to stay clear of Nigeria as your lazy govt are only keen of ripping investors

Then, they should cut down their salaries, allowances and aides. Hardworking innocent Nigerians cannot continue to suffer on account of your collective failures.

How much is 18k in today's naira sef?

Paris here I come

NgeneUkwenu:


See the illiterates above!

So Buhari caused drop in prices of crude Oil From 126 Dollars to 41 Dollars a barrel?

If only your useless and corrupt Jonathan diversified the economy during the oil boom, we wouldnt have been in the mess, but rather he choose to loot and suck Nigeria's wealth dry!

Ediots

Lalasticlala, obinoscopy rule 15 has been broken... do something unless breaking of rules are allowed

when I say that Buhari is a terrorist i don't mean he's in the class of Osama bin Laden or abubakar baghdadi rather am telling you categorically that Buhari and kabiru umar sokoto are within the same class because both are illiterate terrorist - El Rufai

I have given up on wailers. Replying them is just a waste of time since their brain is programmed to curse PMB anytime bad news come up even the one way no concern am. Governors are complaining of not meeting up their expenditure and some illiterates up there are blaming PMB.