Date: 2016-12-14

The sixteen local government councils in Kwara State are to receive the sum of N1b from the State government to augment their allocation for the payment of November 2016 salaries and pensions.

This was the outcome of the State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed's meeting with labour leaders in the State in his office on Tuesday, 13 December. The meeting was attended by leaders of the NLC, NUT, TUC, and JNC in the state as well as state government officials including the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, Head of Service, Hajia Zahra Umar, and Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab.

Governor Ahmed disclosed that the N1billion is part of the N5billion received by the State government from the Federal Government as its share of the London and Paris Club loan refunds. He said the amount is the current balance due to the state government after deductions for earlier receipts.

Governor Ahmed said the balance of N4billion will go towards payment of other staff entitlements, critical infrastructural projects and other people-oriented programmes across the State, according to a statement by Dr. Muyideen Akorede, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications.

The governor also disclosed that the State is still expecting other refunds from the federal government, which will go towards paying more of the arrears and implementation of additional capital projects for the benefit of the people. On the issue of workers' welfare, Alhaji Ahmed gave an assurance that the promotion arrears of staff at both the State and local government levels are currently being reviewed and will be implemented soon.

The state governor expressed concern that the current federal allocation to both the State and local governments is unlikely to improve until next year. He, therefore, stressed the need for prudence and savings of any additional inflow to the State to cushion the effect of any future drop in allocation.