The 16 Local Government Areas in Kwara state shared a total sum of N625,305,525.10 for the month of January.

This was made known by the Chairman of Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), Alhaji Demola Nurudeen Banu during the monthly meeting held on Friday at the Ministry of Finance, Ilorin.

Banu who is also Commissioner for Finance said "the total amount distributable among the 16 LGs after deduction in line with law guiding JAAC stood at N625,305,525.10

He stressed 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.

According to him the 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.

The Commissioner 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.

He declared that the 16 LGs had exhausted their reserved fund and were experiencing financial challenges, as the council could not meet their financial commitments due to persistent shortfall from federation account.

He, however, assured that the state government will continue to make concerted efforts to ensure prompt payment of workers' salary, despite dwindling economy.

Meanwhile, stakeholders and labour leaders from the three senatorial districts of the state have appealed to the striking workers to resume work, thereby assuring that their demands would be met by the state government. Former Chairman of Moro Local Government Area Alhaji Abduraheem Adisa, who spoke on behalf of elder statesmen appealed to the striking workers to call off the strike in order to move the state forward, blaming the problem on consistent shortfall from federation account.

While sympathising with workers for what they were passing through, he stressed that government would ensure prompt payment of salary as there is transparency and honesty with JAAC fund.

He said "Kwara State is demonstrating spectacular transparency and honesty. Consistent drop from federation account has affected the three tiers of government.

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

The Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC),Comrade Olumo Kolawole commended the state for incorporating the union into the meeting, saying the allocation was distributed transparently.

He said,"We have seen the allocation and how it was distributed transparently and with all openness. The state government has deemed it fit to invite us and we have discovered that the shortfall from federation account is responsible for lack of fund in the state."

Also at the meeting were former Senator Ahmed Mohammed and labour unions delegates.