The total shortfall in the federal allocations due to local councils in Kwara State in May, June and July is over N1.25 billion.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Wednesday, the Kwara State government, chairmen of local governments and leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) said there was shortfall of N350 million in May and June with another shortfall of N550 million in July from the federal allocation.

They also said that the current challenge being experienced over late payment of council workers' salaries was due to the shortfall from the federation account.

The stakeholder-bodies, which met with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for more than five hours denied that the state government withheld the allocations meant for the 16 LGAs in the state.

There had been allegations in some quarters that the state government was sitting on the funds accrued to the 16 local councils in the state which precipitated the alleged threat by NULGE to embark on strike recently.

The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, who spoke for the state government, said the funds being deducted from the councils were in line with the approved laws of the state.