Despite the dwindling allocation from the federation account, Kogi State government is poised to pay full salary and also settle the outstanding salary owed local government staff across the state.
Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftancy Affairs, Honourable Abubakar Sadiq Ainoko, who briefed the Press on the state of finances of the third tier of government, regretted the unfortunate situation of payment of some percentages of workers’ salaries since the implementation of the national minimum wage at the local government level.
He blamed it on the dwindling allocation from the federation account.
The Commissioner recalled that in a bid to ensure that all local governments utilised all the money available for salary payment, the ministry intervened by paying the staff directly between October and December last year, leaving only a minimal amount for overheads.
He further explained that in the month of July, the Federation Allocation Committee released a supplementary allocation, tagged “non oil revenue”, which was used to pay 100 percent, while Lokoja local government went a step further to pay a 50 percent arrears of one month.
Ainoko however blamed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for its failure to pay November salary of teachers in five local government areas as well as that of December for all the 21 local government areas due to a faulty salary chart it designed, leading to short falls and in some cases over payments.
According to the Commissioner, the arrears of the November salaries of teachers in the 5 local governments of Okene, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Olamaboro and Omala had been settled from the non oil revenue, while the. government was already in discussion with Labour Union concerning the outstanding 2014 December salary, which would be amicably solved.
He disclosed that the state governor, Captain Idris Wada had directed that the ministry gives priority attention to the payment of salaries of local government staff as done to the state civil servants despite the very low allocation from the federation account.
While commending the Union leaders and the entire workers in the local government for their cooperation and understanding, the commissioner assured them that the government will continue to give priority to their salaries. .
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