By Johnbosco Agbakwuru &  Emem Idio

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the disbursement and utilization of bailout funds advanced by the Federal Government to states governors and the necessity for further bailouts to states still experiencing financial difficulties.

This came as President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, yesterday frowned on the situation where states either slashed or paid half salaries to civil servants, describing the development as unacceptable to organized labour.

The Federal Government had decided to give bail out funds to state governors to enable them pay workers’ salaries.

This resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored by the member representing Yagba/Mopamuro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Karim Sunday Steve.

Karimi in the motion, titled   Motion on urgent need to investigate the disbursement and utilisation of bail out funds to state governments,  had stated that 27 states had been unable to meet their financial obligations, particularly to their employees, because of dwindling allocation from the federation account.

The precarious financial conditions of the states, the lawmaker further said, forced the state governors to approach the federal government for assistance to enable them settle workers’ salaries, retirement benefits and gratuities of retired civil servants.

According to him, in July 2005, the federal government released N689.58billion to the 27 distressed states, while an additional N20 billion was released to Kogi State four months later.

In a related development, the House of Representatives is bidding to protect Nigerian workers from the explorations of foreign nationals that occupy expatriate positions in the country, the House of Representatives yesterday rose to place some restrictions on the employment of this category of workers.

This, the House is doing by proposing  an amendment on some sections of the Immigration Acts through a bill sponsored by the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The proposed bill if eventually passed into law, will increase fines for violators of the immigration law from the current N1 million to N2 million and/or deportation.

The House in the bill, expressed overwhelming support to effectively regulate any foreign nationals/expatriates seeking work permit in Nigeria.

The proposed bill for an Act to amend Immigration Act, 2015; was debated on the floor of the House and passed to second reading.

In the bill stated bill, before any foreign national is employed, it must be ascertained that no Nigerian is qualified and available to take up the job.