Date: 2017-01-19

There was discontent in local government councils across Kwara State following release of N100m for payment of arrears of political office holders, National Pilot learnt, last night.

According to multiple sources from across the state who are conversant with the development, the release has caused serious disquiet across the local government councils.

Those affected by the development included the former 193 councillors, 16 former council bosses including their deputies, 16 council secretaries, 80 supervisory councillors from the immediate past council administration among others.

It was gathered that a meeting between the ex-councillors forum and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the former council bosses has been scheduled for Thursday (today) in a bid to "chart a way forward over the issue.

Three members of the BoT drawn from the three senatorial districts in the state will represent the former local government chairmen at the meeting.

Their agitation centred on the non-payment of their arrears from their severance gratuity and furniture allowance owed them before their tenure ended in November, 2016.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed reportedly promised to clear the backlogs as soon as the financial condition of the state improved.

A source from Kwara South senatorial district who confided in National Pilot said that the release was anti-climax for most of them who had expected much more than that from the government.

"The issue in our district (Kwara South) has been one of hope and depression. Many expected the government to pay more than that especially when you look at what happened in other states.

"Some neighbouring states that we are in this together have done the needful on the issue and we wonder why Kwara is different. A state like Ogun even added to the money it received from the London/Paris loan refund to clear all its salary arrears. Also look at what happened in Kogi, the governor has cleared all the backlogs running into billions of naira", the source added.

Similarly in Kwara Central, a highly placed source who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press over the matter told this medium last night that the issue is very worrisome.

"It is worrisome that those who are regarded as insiders that are now complaining. If you hear what our people involved in this issue are saying, you will be shocked sincerely.

"And what are we even talking about; three billion naira is enough to clear all the backlogs owed workers in the state irrespective of the shades and grades of workers involved. The situation is the same across the state including the north", the source added.

But speaking on the issue, the ex-councillors forum in the state appealed to the governor to make the release a monthly routine to enable their members meet pressing obligations.

Speaking with this medium, last night, the chairman of the forum, Comrade, Opeyemi Adeojo said the N100 million approved by the governor might not add any value to their situation, adding that most of them have bank loans to offset.

"The N100 million approved by the governor will only pay two months out of our backlogs. Most of us are indebted to our various banks through loans and various borrowings. 70 per cent of our members will not be able to collect anything from the payment.

"Unfortunately, we have approached our banks to see how that can help the situation when our money is paid and they have told us there is nothing they can do about it. So, if they are able to pay at least five months, we will be able to offset these huge debts. We are appealing to them to make it monthly. However, we thank him (the governor) for this but he can do more", Adeojo added.

Efforts by this medium to get the position of the government on the issue proved abortive before this paper went to press.

When queried whether the governor will release more funds to quell the agitation, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Dr Muideen Akorede directed the reporter to speak with the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, who subsequently did not respond to the text message sent to him, which marked read.

On Monday, Governor Ahmed approved the release of N100milion to local governments in the state for the payment of arrears of former political office holders.

Banu, who disclosed it, said that the local councils are to use the funds to offset unpaid salaries and allowances of the ex-political office holders.

Banu said that with this latest release of N100m, the local governments have now received a total of N3.5billion as their share of the Paris Club refund received by the state from the Federal Government.

The commissioner recalled that the state government had earlier released a total of N3.4b to the LGs for the payment of salary and pension arrears. He, therefore, assured that the state government will keep supporting the local government councils to enhance their capacity to meet salary and pension obligations.