By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Director General, ABS Mandate Constituency Office, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi has explained the reason the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki decided to pay the district heads in the Emirate the sum of N50million to cover the 20 months salaries they are allegedly owed by the state government.
220 districts heads from Ilorin South, East and Asa local government areas benefitted from the intervention. The breakdown of the figures comprised over N12m for 48 beneficiaries in Ilorin South, N14m for 69 district heads in Ilorin East and over N15m for 103 district heads in Asa.
Presenting the cash to the beneficiaries on Monday, Alhaji Abdullahi said Saraki had earlier set up a committee to address the issue in order to provide succour to the beneficiaries.
He added that the economic downturn has affected the regular payment of the traditional rulers’ salaries by the state government.
Abdullahi advised the district heads to continue to support the Senate President to do more for the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman Elders Council of ABS, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Olesin who described the event as landmark noted that the Senate President decided to intervene in the matter because of the shortfall in the allocation of the state which had affected their monthly pay.
He said, “Saraki is doing this because of the recognition and concern he has for the traditional rulers who are leaders in their various communities.
“Immediately he became aware of their plight which range from arrears of six to 20 months, he sent us there to meet them and assured them of a promise to look into it.”
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Baale of Apado in Ilorin East, Titus Ajibola and the Magaji Masudo, Tanke Oke-Odo, Ilorin South expressed their appreciation to the Senate President and prayed Allah(SWT) continue to provide for him.
