FG PLANS TO GIVE FRESH BAILOUT FUNDS TO STATES

A fresh financial support facility is on the way for the states from the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the current economic crisis, although with stringent conditions.

The scheme is designed to provide relief to the states, many of which are finding it difficult to pay their workers’ salaries.

The Federal Government recently gave the states a bailout to enable them clear the arrear of salaries owed their workers.

The problem has refused to go.

However, the Federal Ministry of Finance said yesterday that further relief would come their way soon provided they met a 22-point reform agenda tagged  the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP).

The FSP is said to have been endorsed by the states themselves at a meeting of the National Economic Council recently.

The conditions require the states to publish their audited financial statements and budgets, biometric and Bank Verification Number (BVN) payroll review exercises for the workers, and restricting recurrent expenditure.

Besides, the states are expected to set and meet targets to enhance their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), establish Efficiency Units to reduce overhead costs, privatize State Owned Enterprises, domesticate Fiscal Responsibility Act, and put a limitation on further bank loans.

The Ministry said the Federal Government has agreed to develop International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) compliant software for the states’ use.

It is also developing new bond issuance guidelines to ease access to the capital market for states wishing to fund developmental projects.

Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said the FSP “represents an important programme of reforms that will develop best practice financial management across all tiers of Government and will improve transparency and accountability.”

She spoke of government’s determination to attain financial discipline across government.

“Overall we believe that the survival of State Governments is essential to the economic recovery of Nigeria, specifically their ability to meet salary obligations,” she added.