By Toyeeb Omotayo
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Kwara state Chapter has expressed worry over the refusal of the state government to pay salary Arrears Owed workers in the state by the past administrations as promised.
A statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin by the State President of NULGE , Comrade Seun Oyinlade, said the recent claim by the state government that the salary arrears was not incurred by the present administrations is not tenable.
Comrade Seun explained that since the emergence of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu federal allocation has increased tremendously but the state government did not prioritise payment of local government workers salary arrears.
He alleged that the state government through the state ministry of finance has diverted the local government funds to the extent that the local governments have become so frustrated and redundant , adding that even the arrears of salaries inherited since 2020 was not given priority.
Comrade Seun noted that the N10,000 naira palliatives which was paid to the local government workers from the local government allocation was stopped since November 2023,at will without any concern or regard to difficulty faced by the workers in the state.
He expressed concern that the administration that claimed not to tamper with local government allocations has become insensitive to the plight of the workers to the extent of determining what goes on at the local government councils in the state.
He said based on the principle of continuity in government payment of salary arrears owed workers should also be given priority as the payment of monthly salary.
The Union leader maintained that the Union is not asking for anything special but the fulfilment of the promises made by governor AbduRahman AbdulRazaq to pay salary arrears owed workers by the past administrations.
He urged the state governor to expedite action in the commencement of the payment of salary arrears owed workers to put smile in their face.
Comrade Seun advised the state government to swing into action without further delay to avoid trade dispute.
