Date: 2018-08-28

Local government workers in Kwara State may soon heave a sigh of relief as the state government has commenced moves to offset their salary arrears, National Pilot reliably gathered, last night.

The move to clear the backlogs of council workers across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state will come as a huge relief to the affected workers some of whom are owed salary ranging from six to nine months.

The move to offset the salary arrears of the council workers was reportedly initiated by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in conjunction with the state government under the leadership of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

It was gathered that the money for the clearance was being sourced from the refund of the Federal Government (FG)to the state as regards the federal road projects either constructed or rehabilitated by the state government.

Although it could not be ascertained the actual amount that is being expected by the state from the FG, the money according to a source will be enough to clear salary arrears of the affected workers.

According to a top source who confided with this medium, 30 states applied for the refund of various federal road projects in their states including Kwara and the money should hit the states any moment from now.

The source added that the Senate President has met with Governor Ahmed over the matter on the need to ensure that the fund when received is used to offset outstanding salaries of the affected workers, who have endured this long.

"30 states across the country applied for the refund of money used to rehabilitate and reconstruct some federal roads in their domain including Kwara. "Initially, the Federal Government expressed difficulty in the process of sourcing for the money due to the economic situation across the country and decided to go borrowing.

"However, the concerned banks from which the money will be sourced requested for the national assembly resolution over the matter before the request can be approved and that has been met now through the help of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who rallied round to ensure the needful is done for quick release of the fund with Kwara council workers particularly in view.

"So, following NASS approval, the money which is now domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Finance and any time from now, the money will hit the affected states throughout the country, but hopefully before the end of August.

"And as a follow up to that, Saraki has further held meeting with the governor on the need for the money to be used to solely offset the backlogs and no part of it will be used for any project," the source added.

Other likely beneficiaries include the 2013/2016 ex-councillors and supervisors among others who will get either furniture allowance or severance package as the case may be.

The local government salary issue had pitched the state government with the leadership of various labour unions like the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who urged the state government to find solution to the issue.

However, the government has consistently maintained that it should not be held responsible for the payment of salary arrears of council workers.

the claim, the state government assured it will continue to explore ways of solving the salary crisis at the third tier of government.