Kwara yet to receive refund from London, Parish club loan – Finance commissioner

THE Kwara State government has said that it has not received N20 billion refunds from Federal Government regarding the London and Paris Club loan, reiterating that the state is yet to receive any fund.

Speaking with journalists during monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, said that the state was yet to receive any payment from the Federal Government.

He condemned the speculation in the social media that Federal Government had released the fund to the state government, urging the public to disregard internet rumours.

“The kwara State government has not received the fund from Federal Government. I want to describe the speculation as malicious aimed to distract the state government.

“Though there have been discussions between the Federal Government and the 36 states, saying that  Kwara State government is yet to receive any refund regarding the loan either from the Federal Government  or any source,” he said.

He stressed further that the 16 local governments in the state would share N424,445,247.55 for the month of November 2016.

According to him, the figure represents their share of the N1, 251,637,135.43 total allocation received by the local governments from the Federation Account for the month.

The N424.4m also includes 10 per cent of the state government’s distributable internal revenue for the month.

Banu said N900, 000,000 was allocated for the payment of Basic Education teachers’ salary, after deductions for loan repayment, while local government pensioners got a total of N116, 794,778.09.

The 16 local governments got N287, 567, 834. 28 in addition to N136, 877,413.27 extraordinary inflow from exchange rate difference as well as N54, 225,476.94, being 10 per cent of State IGR, bringing the total amount distributable to the third tier of government to N424,445, 247.55.

Banu said the committee had mandated him to seek the intervention of the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed’s as regard augmentation to enable the local governments to meet their financial obligations.

He however stressed that any augmentation would depend on the resources available to the state, which he said was also affected by the drop in federal allocation.

While commenting on the reported savings from the elimination of ghost workers in the state, Banu said although an indicative figure was made public, actual savings would be known only after November salaries are paid.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Dr Muyideen Akorede, restated the state government would continue to assist the local government when it is necessary.

He assured that government would continue to look for a robust solution to the crises, saying that the state government would continue to place high premium on workers welfare.

The State ALGON chairman who is also Chairman, Ilorin East LG, Alhaji Danmeromu, acknowledged that they have seen the allocation and how it was shared transparently
and with all openness.

He explained that government has been transparent in disclosing what comes in monthly.