Date: 2016-01-12

The Kwara State government has debunked a report in a national daily that 500 workers in the State had died over unpaid salaries, describing the report as untrue and misleading.

The State government in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Governor, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, described the report as totally untrue, misleading and mischievous.

He stressed that the report was inciting and capable of rupturing industrial relations in the state.

Akorede further explained that the delay in workers' salary was as a result of the financial challenges facing local government councils and indeed central and state government, which according to him, was occasioned by the drop in federal allocations.

The Governor's media aide, however, disclosed that both the state and local governments were taking serious measures to ensure that the salary crisis was resolved on time, adding that the affected workers would soon be paid.

"While the State government empathises with the affected workers, and is working round-the-clock to ensure that they are paid as soon as possible, there is, however, no official confirmation of the workers' death or that the the delay in salary payment was responsible," he stressed.

He maintained that the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed remains committed to the welfare of workers in the State, despite the dwindling allocation from the federation account.

In a related development, the State government has also reacted to another story reported by the same newspaper on Tuesday, which alleged that parents and guardians of students in public primary and secondary schools in Kwara have commenced mass movement of their wards to schools in neighbouring states.

The State government stated that the report was not a true reflection of happenings in the state, noting that it was part of a sponsored propaganda against the present administration.

Contrary to insinuations in the report that the standard of education in Kwara is falling, the state government explained that it is taking measures to reposition the education sector and make public schools in the state compete favourably with others across the country.

The government also expressed optimism that the striking primary school teachers will soon return to class, following steps being taken by it to ensure the teachers are paid as soon as possible.