Former councilors in Kwara State have commended Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for facilitating a N4billion loan for the 16 Local Government councils in the state to offset part of the salary arrears owed their staff.
The Chairman, ex-councilors in the state, Hon. Adebayo Atanda, gave the commendation while on a visit to the Governor at the Government House in Ilorin, on Wednesday.
Atanda recalled that the leadership of the Union at different times met with the governor, who gave his assurance to assist the LGs settle their salary arrears.
He appreciated the governor for facilitating the recently released N4billion loan facility to the councils out of which he said the ex-councilors got the sum of N200million to clear their backlogs.
In his address, Governor Ahmed said that the council was an integral part of the state, adding that his administration would continue to assist them to meet their obligations.
He disclosed that his administration had put in place machinery that would gradually help to pay the arrears until they were finally liquidated.
He added that the consistent drop in allocation made the payment of full salaries difficult.
The governor, however, noted that the allocation had been normalised and salaries paid as and when due, except for the arrears.
The governor assured that the state government would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that funds were sourced within the confines of the law to help the local government councils to clear their arrears.
He disclosed that the LGs had been assisted on individual basis to shore up their Internally Generated Revenues so that additional funds made available could also be used in liquidating outstanding salaries in their various
councils.
Ahmed said that as agreed at the Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting, part of the N4billion loan facility was also made available to the present leadership of the councils to enable them to jumpstart their activities and be on a proper
footing.
The governor, therefore, urged the council chairmen to judiciously carry out their responsibilities and ensure prudence in the allocation of resources.
He also urged past political office holders at the councils to continue to exercise more patience, assuring that their arrears would be paid as soon as funds were
available.
