Date: 2016-01-30

Stakeholders,Elders, concerned citizens and Labour Unions from the three senatorial districts of Kwara State have appealed to striking workers to resume work,describing sharing of Joint Account Allocation Committee(JAAC) fund free and fair ,saying state government is making frantic efforts to pay workers salary.

This was made known during the state monthly Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting held last Friday at Ministry of Finance Conference Hall,Ilorin.

Former Chairman,Moro Local Government Area who spoke on behalf of elder statesmen from the three senatorial districts,Alhaji Abduraheem Adisa appealed to workers to call off the strike in order to move the state forward, blaming the Problem on consistent shortfall from federation account.

Even as the state chairman of JAAC who is also Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Nurudeen Banu declared that total amount distributable among the 16 LGs after deduction in line with law guiding JAAC stood at N625,305,525.10, saying that the committee also agreed to share 121,627,660.84 released from NLNG fund;Exchange Gain Difference of N15,822,773,52 to assist the 16LGs to meet their financial commitments.

He explained that statutory allocation for month of January stood at N1, 158, 853, 610.32;10 per cent IGR from state government,N46,057,332.31; VAT of N330, 814, 470.38, and exchange difference of N15, 822, 773.52. He explained that the fund was appropriated in line with law guiding the local government account which included;Teachers salary N666,862,048.18;LG and LGEA pension 218,557,839.73 among others.

Banu declared that the 16 LGs had exhausted their reserved fund and were experiencing financial challenges,as the LGs could not meet their financial commitments due to persistent shortfall from federation account. Banu, however, assured that the state government will continue to make concerted efforts to ensure prompt payment of workers' salary, despite dwindling resources. Adisa who sympathized with the workers for what they were passing through said government would ensure prompt payment of salary , commended the state government for exhibiting transparency and honesty with JAAC fund.

"Kwara State is demonstrating spectacular demonstration of transparency and honesty. Consistent drop from federation account has affected the three tiers of government. We are convinced,workers and kwarans should also be convinced that state government is transparent with distribution of JAAC fund.

"We appeal to workers to bear with government and resume to their various duty post as government is making efforts to ensure prompt payment of salary",he stated.

The JAAC meeting was well attended by the 16 LGs chairmen/representative , their treasurers, representatives of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as the representatives of the Ministry of Finance. Community leaders across the three senatorial districts of the state and representatives of labour unions were also at the meeting.