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Empty Treasury, a Disgrace to Nigeria, Says Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that the nation’s treasury is virtually empty, with huge debts, leading to inability of both federal and state governments to pay salaries.
The President also regretted the pressure of the culture to perform well in the “First 100 Days” in office.
Buhari made the declaration while meeting with members of the State House press corps on his first day in office, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday described the inability of government to pay salaries as disgraceful for Nigeria.
The President argued that no matter what, the country should be able to pay its workers, as he requested for the cooperation of the media to secure the understanding of the public
He said: “I hope we are starting and this culture developed, of 100 days, is bringing so much pressure, with treasury virtually empty, with debts in millions of dollars, with state workers and even federal workers not paid their salaries. It is such a disgrace for Nigeria. I think Nigeria should be in a position to pay its workers. This bad management that we find ourselves in, we really need your help to protect us from people before they match on us.”
Buhari explained that he had selected some of the best hands to help him manage the media and hoped for a productive relationship between him and the Corps.
“I’m going to be brief because it will be consistently brief until I leave this damn place.
“It is not by accident that I got one of the best of you to be the special adviser, one of the 15 aides for whom I had to get clearance from the Senate.
“He is one of the best presidents of the Guild (of Editors) that I can have as special adviser. I brought one of the best of you so that he can consistently defend me against you.
“Whether my job is a difficult one or easy is up to him. But I’m here to thank you in advance for what good and ill you are going to do to me.
“I have to quickly come and see you and welcome you to this place. I hope what happened of recent between the former president and one of you (expulsion of a reporter from Villa) will not happen between me and you. I hope we are starting,” he said.
The president’s meeting with the Corps was facilitated by Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity), respectively.