RE : *Paris Refund : Govs, Reps caucus tackle FG over $418m payment to consultants*

By Oyana Alphonsus

On the 3rd of September, 2021 the above narrative was published by the Vanguard Newspaper which on a cursory glance appears a gripping narrative especially taking into consideration the reasons adduced by the Nigeria Governors Forum and that of the Minority Caucus of the Federal House of Representatives over the burning issue at stake.
However, after critical appraisal of the above narrative by the Nigeria Governors which revealed deliberate design to not only mislead the reading public but to bring both the consultants and the Presidency into disrupte and public opprobrium hence, it becomes imperative to respond and set the record straight .
The facts of the matter are as follows :

It's on record that the Local governments received over $3b refunds whilst the States received over $10b of Paris Club Refunds. However, the failure of the Federal to deduct the fees accruing to the consultants at source even though all the parties involved had signed all the requisite legal documents authorising the Federal government to deduct 5% only from any amount to be paid to the LG and the States . This failure on the part of the Federal government to m act accordingly in this regard therefore, resulted in the decision of the consultant to join the FGN in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit No ; FHC/ ABJ/ CS/130/13 - Linas International limited & ORSV.
In addition to the above agreement , all the Local Governments in Nigeria signed irrevocable mandates authorizing 20% deductions as fees for the consultant-- Linas International limited.
Additionally, the former Nigeria Governors Forum Chairman :
Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, former Governor of Zamfara State also signed an Indemnity on behalf of the states for these payments in return for $300m that was paid by the Federal government to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) .
The NGF Chairman and their DG also jointly signed a letter of no objection for the payments of fees accruing to the consultants.
The Court having critically examined these facts then upheld these agreements in the suit and gave judgement in favour of Linas International limited as far back as 2013.
This was what informed the publication of the above subject matter by same Vanguard Newspaper on the 17th of June, 2017 titled ;
*Paris Club Refund : Govs resolved to pay consultants*.
as reported then by one Omezia Ajayi in Abuja thus :
The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, has resolved to offset *all* outstanding fees owed consultants in the payment of the Paris- London Club loan refund to the States.
It went on, to state that the decision was reached in Abuja at a meeting of the Legal Committee of Nigeria Governors Forum at the Plateau Government Lodge. Continuing, it reported that the consultants to be paid include all those that were engaged by previous administrations in various States.
So, the current objections being raised by the Governor Fayemi's led administration could at best be described as not only foolhardy but untenable anywhere in the World .
The Fayemi led NGF should therefore, not only stop these malicious attempts aimed at frustrating the execution of a valid Court judgement delivered since 2013 but also at blackmailing the Presidency and bring it to disrepute and public opprobrium.

Conclusion..

Finally, on the reasons adduced for the objections to the directive by the leader of the Minority caucus of the Green Chamber one finds the objections to the issue not only absurd, meddling and
preposterous but lacking in merit .

If the Nigeria Governors Forum must come to equity then, they must come with clean hands.

They should be reminded that every
honest hardwork deserves to be rewarded accordingly

Mr Oyana
A literary critic and commentator on topical issues wrote from Asaba.

4th of September, 2021

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