Date: 2015-07-16

The Kwara State Government has described as false, speculative and unfounded a Punch newspaper report that some of its workers died waiting for payment of salary arrears.

In a statement issued by Dr. Muideen Akorede, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the state government said while the reported deaths of the workers is sad, there is no proof that the deaths were caused by the delay in payment of salaries by certain tertiary institutions in the state.

According to the statement, despite the drop in federal allocation to the state for almost a year, the government has consistently paid the salaries of its workers due to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's financial ingenuity. The only exception, it said, were some of its revenue generating agencies which are in the process of clearing salary arrears.

The state government also clarified claims that it had received a bail out from the federal government to pay salary arrears, stressing that it had only received its statutory share of NLNG dividend which should have been paid to the state but was delayed.

The statement added that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had earlier this week approved the payment of salaries and pensions to enable workers and pensioners celebrate the Eid Fitr festival although payment was not due until the end of the month.

Continuing, the state government said it was determined to work within available resources to ensure that Kwara State workers are paid promptly while ensuring the smooth running of government as whole.