By Mumini AbdulKareem
Strong indications emerged last night that Governor Abdulrahman
Abdulrazaq approved the payment of salaries for civil servants in the
state before the close of work last Friday.
Towards this end, there is possibility that workers in the state will
start receiving alert from their various banks today (Monday) ahead of
the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
According to multiple sources close to the Governor, Abdulrazaq
approved the payment last week but for paper work, the workers would
have received their salaries before the close of work last Friday.
There have been concerns in the state among the workers following
silence of the Governor on the issue despite workers receiving May
salary in neighbouring states.
After their inauguration last week, Governors of Lagos and Oyo states
have appointed key aides and paid backlog of salaries, a situation
which is sharply different from the development in Kwara.
Speaking with this reporter last night on the issue, one of the
sources, who preferred anonymity for fear of victimization, noted that
workers are expected to start receiving bank alert from today
(Monday).
“What I can confirm to you is that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq
approved the payment of workers’ salaries on Friday and you know there
is need for the paper work to be carried out to that effect before the
money can be paid by the banks.
“But all things being equal, we expect the workers to start receiving
their alert today ahead of the Sallah celebration and public
holidays,” he added.
Also, another source who also spoke on the issue last night told this
reporter that after the Governor met with various groups and
stakeholders in the state last week after his inauguration, he
commenced moves to ensure that salaries were paid to the workers who
formed part of the massive votes he received during the last general
elections, this week.
“Although, I know people are worried and agitated because of the
salary issue, but the Governor has commenced moves to solve the
problem.
“It is not that the payment is late in coming because Monday will make
it just three days into the new month. But the Governor being who he
is, is taking his time to ensure that the right thing is done and
everybody will be happy especially the civil servants with the
multiplier effect.
“People that are comparing other states like Oyo to Kwara are not
being fair. But I know that before the close of work tomorrow
(Monday), we will see the effect of the action of the Governor towards
the payment of the salaries,” the source submitted.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
reportedly froze the account of the state government during the end of
the tenure of former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to avoid ‘illegal
spending’.
However, many expected the Governor to have initiated moves to
prioritise unfrozen of the account and take advantage of the N3.2bn
allocation for the month of May and the N5.1bn tax refund paid to the
state by the Federal Government to defray the salaries and backlogs of
affected workers across all tiers of government.
