Salary Backlog: We’ll reject any move by KWSG to access loan on LGs’ behalf – NULGE

By Matthew Denis

The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Kwara State branch has said it will reject any attempt by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to obtain loan on behalf of the 16 councils of the state to clear their salary backlog.
Governor Abdulrazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye while featuring on a television programme last weekend repeatedly said the payment of council workers and SUBEB staff salaries remained the duty of Local Government authorities, noting that the state government can’t be held responsible.
Expectation had been high among the affected workers that the new government will look into the issue with a view of finding lasting solution after the receipt of N4.8 billion tax refund and increased monthly allocation to the state.
Speaking on the issue yesterday, the President of Kwara NULGE, Comrade Salihu Ayinla Yusuf said, “It’s quite right, that Local Government chairmen are solely in charge of payment of their workers’ salaries and backlog.”
He however stressed that there are some lingering issues that Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration should address.
He said, “We are calling on the state government not to obtain any loan on behalf of the Local Governments because we’ll reject it.
“We want the state government to take the financial responsibility of paying Junior Secondary Schools teachers off the shoulders of LGs and the issue of waste management.
“Over N400 million is being used to service Junior Secondary Schools teachers monthly. By calculation or statically, if we take just five years now, I mean just five years, Local Government fund has been illegally diverted to the tune of over N24 billion. Even one year illegal diversion is enough to pay Local Government staff salary arrears because the total sum owed council workers is about N3billion when compared to the N400million in 12 months which is over N4.8 billion.
“There should be thorough screening for primary school teachers to ascertain the actual staff strength. You know going by the provision of constitution, Local Government is expected to play a participatory role in funding of primary school. But in Kwara State, Local Government still fund primary school teachers’ salaries 100 per cent. The councils are completely crippled by the state government.
“We are therefore appealing to the governor to use part of the tax refund to clear part of Local Government arrears. Also, apart from the statutory monthly allocation from the Federal Government to the councils, other inflow like the stabilisation funds, ecological funds among others should be used to offset salary arrears in various councils.
According to him the total amount owed the Local governments is about N3 billion and that of teachers is N4 billion.
He said, “When this money is calculated, it will amount to N36billion and all these will settle salary arrears and even carryout some developmental projects in the LGs for the people at the grassroots as dividends of democracy.
The NULGE boss however assured the state government of collaboration to ensure execution of infrastructural projects across the state.