The Kwara State Government has earmarked N8.1 billion for the payment of gratuities for retired state and local government staff.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hawa Nuhu, disclosed this on Tuesday at the third quarter inter-ministerial briefing held at the State Ministry of Finance Conference Hall in Ilorin.

Dr. Nuhu specified the breakdown of the fund: N5.6 billion will be disbursed to state retired staff for gratuities, while N2.5 billion has been earmarked for local government retired staff.

The Commissioner explained that pensions and gratuities have recently tripled due to the implementation of the N30,000 and the current N70,000 minimum wages, along with their consequential adjustments for retirees.

Nuhu assured that the state government will continue to gradually offset these pensions and gratuities while ensuring that other vital developmental projects do not suffer. She also asserted that the state government is not owing any local government retiree except those who failed to show up during the verification exercise conducted across all 16 local councils in the state.

"Those complaining are few and they need to come forward and complete their verification exercise and collect their money," she said.

Nuhu said the monthly internally generated revenue is about N15.7b, while domestic debt of the state stands at N57b.

The finance commissioner also clarified the insinuation that new levies would be imposed on the residents at both state and Federal levels, explaining that "no new levies in 2026, but rather, the governments are presently streamlining the existing taxes and will become effective from January 2026.

On his part, the Commissioner for Transportation, Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi, said the ministry has beefed up safety and security, including introduction of colour codes for transport operators for proper identification and commuter safety.

He also disclosed that 1,000 life jackets received from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, were distributed across the five riverine areas of the state, namely Baruten, Edu, Moro, Kaiama and Patigi Local Government Areas of the state to enhance water safety.

In her own presentation, Commissioner for Social Welfare and Development, Dr Mariam Imam Nnafatima, said over 200 street beggars evacuated from the streets in Ilorin the state capital have been repatriated to their respective home states.

She said a total renovation of the rehabilitation center at Amayo and Elders Home was ongoing to make it functional, while the state government has also been combating drug abuse in collaboration with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the state.