Local Government Chairmen in Kwara State have said that the state government under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is not deducting or withholding any funds accruable to local governments from the federation account. The State Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Ilorin South Local Government, Dr Adebayo Ishola made the declaration at a joint press briefing with the State government delegation shortly after a 5-hour meeting with Governor Ahmed, local government chairmen and other stakeholders at the Government House, Ilorin.
Dr Ishola who said the claim by the National Union of Local Government Employees in the state that certain funds were being withheld by the state government was totally untrue, attributed the problem to the shortfall in their allocations from the federal government. He said the local governments in the state were facing drastic shortfall in their allocations from the federal account which he noted was inadequate for them to carry out most of their responsibilities including the payment of staff salaries. Dr Ishola said local governments in the state have many responsibilities including the payments of teachers’ salaries and allowances, pension, contribution to the State University that are first line charges backed by law. He added that it was from the balance that workers’ salaries are paid and agreed deductions for joint projects were deducted.
The state Chairman of ALGON said the meeting with the state Governor afforded the state NULGE officials at the meeting the opportunity to see things for themselves and applauded the Governor for his concern and for educating them on the situation on ground. He urged local government staff across the state to be patient as everything humanly possible was being done to find a lasting solution to the current shortfall in the local government allocation from the federal account.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor,
(Media and Communication),
Government House,
Ilorin.