Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has said the state is yet to get full bailout loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He added that only N5 billion of the N20 billion meant for the state was released.

Lalong, who spoke at an All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) media roundtable in Abuja, said he was doing everything to ensure that the balance of the bailout fund was released to his state to enable him continue his programmes.

He said he was discussing with the CBN to release the balance of the bailout loan, adding that the state had cleared backlog of salaries owed civil servants.

“We only owe two months salary.”

The governor said without the full bailout fund, he paid the salary arrears of local government workers.

He said: “I was at the CBN pursuing bailout loan for Plateau. The state was supposed to get N10 billion for salaries and N10 billion for infrastructure. But we got only N5 billion and with that, we cleared backlog of salaries.

“From last May to date we are not owing, except the ones we inherited. If I get my balance of N5 billion within a week, the outstanding debts will be cleared.”

Commenting on the Treasury Single Account, Lalong said: “Other states may be finding it difficult, not Plateau. We are implementing TSA. Immediately I saw the introduction of TSA by Mr. President, I called my accountant-general and commissioner for Finance and told them they must implement.

“I am not an accountant and at that time, I didn’t know the implication. But from what I saw about the advantages of TSA, I said let it be implemented in the state. I set up a committee and today it is being implemented. I don’t know why some governors are finding it difficult to implement TSA.”

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Lalong: Plateau yet to get full bailout loan from CBN