Date: 2017-09-06

The Kwara state government has described as false and misleading, claims in some quarters that the sum of N1.4billion is deducted monthly from local government allocations to pay staff of the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, clarified that N1.1 billion is required every month to pay SUBEB staff, comprising primary and junior secondary school teachers.

He noted that the amount was N1.2 billion before the staff verification exercise was conducted by the State government last year.

Banu explained that N900 million is often appropriated for this purpose by the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), which is operated among the 16 local government councils in the state, due to reduced allocation to the local councils from the federal government. He added that the allocation to SUBEB is statutorily treated as a first line charge.

He also disclosed that N579,970,740.32 is required monthly to pay salaries of local government workers, while the monthly requirement to pay local government pensioners stands at N355,925,249.52.

The commissioner further emphasized that shortage of funds has made it difficult for local councils in the state to meet their monthly salary obligations, noting that this is responsible for the lingering salary crisis experienced at the local government level.

He also reiterated that the Kwara state government does not interfere with the finances of the local governments, stressing that salary delay at the third tier of government is caused by drop in allocation due to drop in global crude oil prices.