Alhaji Musa Yaketi, Kwara Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, says the state government has applied for N1.5 billion loan for payment of teachers' salary.

Yaketi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Monday that as soon as the loan was secured, government would commence payment.

He said the state government has earlier secured a loan of N4.8 billion from Sterling Bank, part of which was used to pay the first tranche of the salary, remaining three months arrears.

The commissioner appealed to teachers across the state to suspend the strike, in the interest of their pupils, adding that the issue o,f salary was beyond redemption, as no money is coming in.

NAN reports that the indefinite strike has entered its second week, with the resolution from the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) not to go back to work until their salaries were fully paid.

NUT chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Musa told NAN the concerned teachers have been directed to remain at home until further instruction from the union.

Musa said that teachers cannot adequately impact knowledge on the students with empty stomach.

"There is no way the hungry teachers could deliver effectively, it is better for teachers to remain at home until the government is capable of paying them," the NUT boss said.

"Non-payment of salaries is like the case of a labourer going to farm with empty stomach, there is the possibility that he would not be able to perform", he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Muideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, told NAN that the delay in payment of salaries was due to shortfall in monthly allocation to the state.

"In Kwara, this has resulted in some delays, especially at the local government level.

"This has led to wrong speculation that the state government interferes with LG funds; this is untrue," Akorede added. (NAN)