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Tag: Kwara govt

  • Kwara govt, Industrial Court, to partner on speedy dispensation of cases

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has pledged to assist the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in facilitating speedy dispensation of industrial-related cases and promote industrial harmony in the state.

    Ahmed made the pledge when he received the President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Babatunde Adejumo at the Government House, Ilorin on Sunday.

    The governor also expressed government’s determination to partner with the Judiciary and other federal agencies.

    He identified justice as a major ingredient for economic growth and development of the society.

    According to the governor, the support for Industrial Court in the state will save lawyers and litigants from travelling to other states to seek redress.

    Ahmed promised that his government would not relent in creating a conducive environment for the delivery of quality services to the people of the state.

    Earlier, Adejumo called for the support of the state government in establishing a permanent National Industrial Court in Ilorin.

    He said that this would save lawyers and litigants from travelling to National Industrial Court in either Akure, Ondo State or Ibadan in Oyo State to seek redress.

  • Kwara govt to end teachers’ salary crises

    Kwara govt to end teachers’ salary crises

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said his administration is committed to finding a lasting solution to the lingering salary crises at its basic education level.

    Ahmed, who spoke during a meeting with education stakeholders, was worried at the plight of primary and junior secondary teachers as well as other workers who are being owed salaries, a situation he linked to the drop in federal allocation.

    He said he is working with stakeholders to come up with a robust plan that will bring succor to the affected workers.

    The governor said though the councils were responsible for salaries and pensions at the local government level, the state remained committed to ensuring the welfare of all categories of workers.

    Governor Ahmed emphasized that the Federal Government’s fresh bailout package for states “is a budget support scheme, which is to enable states implement their budget in view of the current economic realities”. He added that the package was not extended to local councils because the Federal Government could not afford it.

    Present at the meeting were the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Isiaka Gold; Chief of Staff Abdulwahab Babatunde; Head of Service Hajia Zainab Umar and Commissioner for Education Alhaji Musa Yeketi.

    Others are Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) Dr. Oladimeji Dasuki; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Musa Abubakar and representatives of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS).

  • PDP, Kwara govt bicker over N2b bailout

    PDP, Kwara govt bicker over N2b bailout

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused the state government of diverting the over N2billion bailout fund it received from the Federal Government.

    But the government dismissed the allegation as baseless.

    The PDP in a statement by its spokesperson, Chief Rex Olawoye, alleged that the diversion was criminal, insensitive and a negation of the spirit behind the funds’ release.

    The statement reads: “Our party learnt that the state share of the bailout funds was paid on July 8. But over five months salaries are being owed some workers.

    “Even more curious is the fact that the Kwara State government has kept mum about the exact amount it got from the Consolidated Revenue Account in the bailout. Whereas, virtually all states, particularly Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Kastina and Kaduna have publicly declared how much they got in the bailout from the Federal Government, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state has kept a dangerous silence over the funds.

    “We, therefore, urge the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union of Nigeria (RATAWU), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and ASUP, whose members are the worse affected, to prevail on the government to begin the payment of arrears of salaries, allowances and pensions of workers, to ameliorate their sufferings.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, said Kwara only received its share of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividend recently distributed to all tiers of government.

    Governor Ahmed dismissed PDP’s allegation as untruthful, saying the government had not received the bailout from the Federal Government.

    He said the government officials informed the state chapters of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) during meetings last week to update them on the funds received and how they would be utilised, adding that the information was in the public domain.

    Ahmed clarified that the N2.1billion NLNG dividend was inadequate to cover the monthly obligations, which he put at N2.6billion.

    These obligations, he said, included the salaries of civil servants, teachers, pensions, gratuities and subventions to its ministries, departments and agencies as well as tertiary institutions.

    The governor said: “The monthly obligations also include statutory first-line deductions for the judiciary and the legislative arms of government. Despite this, the government recently paid salaries to the core civil service as well as pensions.

    “As a consequence, the government has decided to retain the funds as a buffer, while awaiting details of the FAAC allocation for July, after which it will disburse the funds towards meeting its obligations.”

    On the expected bailout from the Federal Government, Ahmed said the rescue package was expected to come in the form of a-N300billion loan to restructure debts owed by states.