3rd February, 2020.

Press release.


_LG/SUBEB Salary Arrears: KWSG is some miles away from transparency, group declares_


We have read and listened to different stories on Local Government Salary Arrears coming from the quarter of the Kwara State Government and its accompanied misinformation. As a concerned stakeholders, *The People's Voice advocacy Network* resolved that, the moment has come for all concerned Kwarans to ask the proper questions while drawing the right inferences about the state government deliberate attempt to dance around with unapplaudable steps. Of what critical importance is the manner at which the state government is pilling up rubbles just to house all sort of misrepresentation, misinformation and untrue narratives.

To set the record straight, the People's Voice Advocacy Network, as a group, wishes to briefly project its views in these following direction:

1. That the claim made by the Executive Governor of Kwara State through his spokesperson on 15% payment of Local government salary arrears is an half smart utterances.

2. For people of history, it will be recall that in 2017, local government obtained ₦4billion loan to settle two months out of its outstanding salaries which this repayment came to an end in September 2019.

3. In our findings, it was revealed that a sum of ₦319million has been the monthly loan repayment for two years which was offset last four months ago.

4. Going by this revelation, it will be correct to establish that the month of October, November, December and January are loan free months. By the fact interpretation and logical computation, slight above ₦300m would have been on Local Government account monthly which must have accumulated to a billion plus naira saved couple with the fact the monthly Allocation share from Federal has been in appreciable form. This is a simple arithmetic which should be devoid of any complex concoction of deliberate lies and misinformation.

5. In lieu of this development, the issue of how State Government led by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq resolved to 15% payment for LG/SUBEB teachers as part of their outstanding arrears requires further explanation. The group submission may further explain the sore fear why the state government has been turning her deaf ears to what could have brought transparency and accountability to fore in Kwara State. A case of helpless FOI bill could quickly comes to mind as it has been Champion by a Sister group.


6. On this note, it will be important to let the populace be aware that our constant engagement with the concerned authorities has also affirmed the fact that the wage will for LG/SUBEB and their respective pensioners still slightly above ₦2.1billion. This is a verifiable fact and figure the government may wish to contest for the sake of clarity.




7. We as a group are if the opinion and going by our calculation the surplus from FAAC savings of LG funds should at least offset 50℅ of a month's salary of these set of workers who are being owed about 3 months plus of salary arrears.

8. We read the unsubstantiated narrative coming from an unknown government official or sympathiser that the said 15% payment for the concerned workers was realised as a result of accumulated ghost workers balance. As funny as this sounds, we can only smile it off and focus on what matter most. But in case the State Government wishes to press further on this unsubstantiated narrative, we can only advise that they should publish the list of the acclaimed ghost schools and several ghost staff Members which their salaries were inherited to offset the 15% LGAs/SUBEB salary arrears. This, we believe, will put an end to their unfounded escape hideout.

9.Finally, may we demand for a comprehensive report of 10% share from IGR that goes to LG as stipulated from the Constitution. At least from month of June last year to January this year. We are in Era where what is coming from Federal (FAAC) has improved impressively and the 10% share from IGR ought to been helpful.


10. At this end, we hold that the State Government led by Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq is still some miles away from being transparent and honest on the subject matter.

10. Thank you.

Signed:

Comrade Abulraheem Olaitan,
Assistant Publicity Secretary,
The People's Voice Advocacy Network

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