President Muhammadu Buhari has called on all the 36 state governors to pay all the salaries and arrears owed workers before Christmas to enable them have worthwhile yuletide celebrations.

President Buhari, who gave the charge on Monday when he met with the governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also directed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, the Minister of Economic Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun to negotiate with the governors over the Paris Club refunds.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said the focus of the meeting was on the need to settle outstanding workers’ salaries before Christmas and the payment of the 50 percent outstanding Paris Club refunds.

Okorocha said: “It was a brief meeting between the governors of Nigeria and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The discussion centered on basically the end of the year and the President himself had expressed the need to make sure that every Nigerian, especially the workers have a beautiful Christmas.

He added: “The issue of the outstanding Paris Club was discussed and that was taken care of to make sure that workers in various states everywhere in the country get to celebrate the Christmas.”