LGs Salary Arrears: Saraki fulfils promise as Irepodun workers receive payment today

…his gesture came as surprise – Beneficiaries

By Kayode Adeoti

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki made bold his promise to offset salary arrears of council workers in the state as he flagged off the payment in Omu-Aran the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, yesterday.

Former council chairman of Irepodun, Comrade Bisi Fakayode, who delivered the money on behalf of Saraki stressed that the undisclosed fund is meant for serving council workers and retirees adding that payment will start immediately.

According to Fakayode who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters and Students Affairs, Saraki understands the plight of the council workers and he is determined to ensure they get rewards of their labour as at when due.

He added that the salary arrears was caused by the sudden drop in federal allocation to the state.

Speaking further, Fakayode said, “During my tenure as council chairman, there were many things we wanted to do but paucity of funds denied us. We intensified prayers and gradually things changed.

“With the payment of arrears that will begin today, your prayers are being answered. Those who are not working again are also entitled to the payment.

“I faced similar challenge as council chairman but it was the late Dr Olusola Saraki who bailed me out with the sum of N50million as at then. I used the fund to offset two-month salary arrears of the workers and till now, I’ve not paid back,” he stated.

Continuing, Fakayode said, during a meeting with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the plight of council workers, three days ago, he lamented how the Federal Government denied Kwara its share of the last tranche of the Paris Club refund and funds expended on road projects.

“The governor said if all those funds were paid into the state account, it would have been used to offset salary arrears.”

Earlier, the state Secretary of the National Union of Local Government Employers (NULGE), Comrade Hotonu Rafiu appreciated the gesture of the Senate President saying the agitation of the union had yielded result.

He said, “We’ve made lots of protests to get what we want, we agreed that Federal allocation has dropped but notwithstanding, we deserve our wages. The Senate President had earlier concluded plans to bring succour to the councils but due to the challenges of going from one court to the other, he had no opportunity of doing this for us before now.

“But today, we’ve come to flag-off the payment of salary arrears and it will start in Irepodun. The money will not be taken to bank but it will be disbursed at council level. The finance clerk will pay individual workers their dues. If anything goes wrong with the money, there will be trouble, so there should be no loose ends.”

In his address, the Irepodun Chairman, Hon Muyiwa Oladipupo urged the workers to support the present administration and the leadership of Saraki in the 2019 general elections.

According to him, nobody can manage the affairs of the state better than those who understand the terrain even as he stressed that opposition parties have nothing to offer the people.

“All members of my family are civil servants, so if I fail to ensure good disbursement of this money, all of us will suffer and I don’t want that.

“Nobody can manage this state than those who have been doing it before. Those coming to meet you in the opposition parties have nothing to give you than deceit.

“Let us continue supporting our leader, Saraki, I believe, before this year ends, he will still make us happy,” Oladipupo said.

Similarly, the Secretary of the council NULGE, Olabode Ajiboye who appreciated the gesture of Saraki however charged the state government to disengage consultant from paying salaries to council workers.

He said, “We thank Saraki for making us happy again but we want our salaries to be paid to us directly, it should be removed from the hands of consultant.”

Similarly, the mail runner of the council, Kunle Fakayode described Saraki’s gesture as a surprise to the workers stressing that it was not expected so soon given the paucity of funds in the country.

“The gesture was a surprise, we never expected it but it will go a long way in boosting our morale. Money is important in the life of an individual though we wished they do more but we’re grateful.