Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu, on Friday said the inability of current governors in the country to pay workers’ salaries as at when due was because they squander their states’ funds on personal luxury.

He spoke with State House correspondents after leading a delegation of investors in the power sector to a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinabjo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said some of the governors are in the habit of taking up to N35 million as traveling allowance on one trip.

Kalu said unless governors stop withdrawal of funds as security vote, they will continue to face difficulties funding critical projects in their states.

He, however, noted that some governors are doing well by developing their states.

On the recent demand for more funds by the governors to meet up with their statutory obligations, Kalu said the demand was unnecessary as states already have sufficient funds to function optimally.

He said: “I think most of these governors are doing very well and some of them also are living in the euphoria of the office. You can see most of them who are very active, I don’t need to count them for you.

“But honestly, in my opinion, I think these governors have enough fund to work for their people because if you check, the money drawn as security vote is excessive. They should stop that.

“Unless they stop drawing on security vote they will not have enough fund to work with and most of them are living in absolute luxury.”