Delay in payment of workers’ salaries will end soon —Kwara govt

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that the delay in the payment of salaries of teachers and local government workers in the state will soon be a thing of the past.

Speaking at the presentation of First Class Staff of Office to eight newly upgraded traditional rulers in the state on Monday, Governor Ahmed hinged the optimism on the ongoing verification of staff, reform of Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) mechanism as well as the proposed takeover of Junior Secondary education funding.

The governor, who said his administration was not unaware of the pains, the delay in the payment of salaries has caused many, cautioned politicians against inciting statements and misinformation against the government.

“These immoral and unpatriotic attempts to gain political relevance from the plight of workers affected by the huge drop in allocation to all tiers of government in the country, must be condemned and resisted by all stakeholders, including traditional rulers.

“As your governor, I am not unaware of the hardship faced by basic education teachers and other local government workers over the unfortunate delay in  the  payment of salaries. I feel their pains and will do everything within my power to bring the crisis to an end,”  he said.

He charged the  traditional rulers in the state to “educate members of their communities on the current economic situation in the country and  measures the state government has put in place to remedy the situation”, he said.

Governor Ahmed also urged  the traditional rulers, as custodians of tradition and culture, to continue to support the state government in order to ensure prosperity of Kwara people.

The chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs and Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, in his remarks, said the newly elevated traditional rulers to first class status ,were of impeccable characters.

Speaking on behalf of the new first class traditional rulers, the Olosi of Osi, Oba Salihu Adasofegbe,  promised that they would live up to the expectations of the government and people of the state in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Other newly elevated traditional rulers to first class status are Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Abubakar Idris, Serobeteseri; Emir of Gwanara, Alhaji Sabi Idris, Olupako of Share, Alhaji Abubakar Adelodun, Olosi of Isanlu-Isin, Oba Solomon Olugbemiga Oloyede, Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Professor Halidu Abubakar and Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Usman Sariki.