Date: 2016-06-02

"Kwara State Government yesterday approved the construction of Geri-Alimi Diamond Split Underpass at the cost of N2.9billion, National Pilot reports. The project which is in three sections will include reconstruction of Geri-Alimi-Sawmill Garage-General Hospital road within 18 months" – Ilorin.info

Anyone that has followed this page over the last two years would have noticed that I am in agreement with those who want a change in government in Kwara state. Yet, while I fundamentally disagree with the present Kwara state government on matters of policy, I do not want the government to fail. My reason is simple; I know the consequences of government failure on ordinary citizens and we have had to live especially during this period with the consequences of the present government's failure to address cogent issues that affects the working class in Kwara. It is in the light of this - that my intervention on the Geri Alimi Under pass project should be understood.

The underpass project is a good idea and I am in support of it. My concern however stems from the realization that the present Kwara state government has repeatedly claimed to be suffering from a paucity of funds and over the last two years have not been able to meet up to its basic responsibility to its employees.

Now, we should all recognize that before any infrastructural development can take place, employees both in the private and the public sectors must be paid their wages in a timely manner. Both the Quran and the Bible enjoined employers of labour to not do injustice to those who put in a fair day's work. It needs no repeating that government employees in Kwara state are being owed several months of salaries; the question that begs for answer is where would the Kwara state government find the money to pay for the Geri-Alimi Diamond Split Underpass? The second question is; when will the Kwara state government pay in full the salaries that are being owed over the last several months to its state and local government employees?

All of us Kwarans will appreciate the government if the same level of determination that it has shown in getting the Geri-Alimi Diamond Split Underpass project off the ground is being applied to the welfare of the workers.

May God bless the state of Kwara.