Jalo, who spoke in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the state governments to give an account of how they utilised the initial bailout granted to them.

The PDP chieftain was reacting to a comment credited to the President during the National Economic Summit where he stated that 27 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries.

According to him, the Federal Government is encouraging laziness in public service if it continues to grant bailout to states.

He said bailout should be granted strictly on merit.

He said, “President Buhari will be running a blind administration if he fails to hold the states accountable for what they have got. In this sense, the states do not really deserve any bailout because some of the governors have not been accountable to the people on how much they got from the Federal Government.

“As a matter of necessity, the states must publish how they utilised the initial bailout and justify the confidence reposed in them. The President must ask whether the states really deserve a fresh bailout. 

The bailout is encouraging a culture of laziness in public service.”

Source: PUNCH.