The governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have told the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, that they need him to release $1 billion to them from the Excess Crude Account.
The governors stated their position on Tuesday at the National Economic Council meeting held in Abuja.
The meeting was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
They said notwithstanding the fact that the face-off over the handling of the Excess Crude Account between the states and the Federal Government is in court, there was the need for Jonathan to urgently approve the release of the $1 billion.
The governors said they needed the money to pay contractors before the end of the year.
The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari, who briefed State House correspondents after the NEC meeting, said: “The Council requested the Federal Government to release the sum of $1 billion to pay for contracts at the end of this year due to the financial situation the states are facing.”
On the suit in court over the handling of the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government and the import on the demand of the governors, Shagari said: “The matter is in court and there is demand that the money be released.
“No decision has been taken yet and we are relying on the Attorney General of the Federation for advice and interpretation.”
Shagari said the fact that the issue is in court does not mean the federal and state governments are in dispute.
He said the court action was to allow due process to be followed, adding: “There is no dispute between the Federal Government and states on the issue of Excess Crude Account. “All we are trying to do is to make sure everything is done through due process.”
The NEC is made up of the 36 state governors, the ministers of Finance and National Planning, the Attorney General of the Federation and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The vice president presides over the NEC.
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