Date: 2016-12-05

Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has appealed to Kwara State government to use the N75 billion released to the state, being over-deduction from the state's federation account for Paris loan debt to offset the salaries of workers of the state-owned tertiary institutions and other parastatals in the state.

"At present, Kwara State government is owing the workers of college of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, Ilorin nine months, College of Education, Ilorin eight months, College of Education, Oro 13 months, College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi four months and staff of State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) seven months," the union said.

It is recalled that the Federal Government recently said that it released some funds to 36 states of the federation through federation account over the deductions from their past federal allocations.

NASU in a communique issued after its state executive council meeting in Ilorin said that, "Ensuring payment of their salaries, we believe will go a long way to save souls of our teeming members in the state from sudden and untimely death due to their inability to attend to their health issues and buy drugs for those on life threatening sicknesses."

The communique which was signed by the state chairman, Comrade Issa Muhammed and Secretary, Comrade Owoeye Olusina reads thus; "The sec-in-session appreciates government of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for his administrative acumen at ensuring that salaries of core civil servant are paid regularly, which translate into better welfare on the side of the core civil servants and teaching service commission in the state.

"We cannot but also thank you for past and present efforts of your government to keep hope of finding lasting solution to State owned tertiary institutions perennial salary crisis alive.

"We are aware that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of our dear state has improved tremendously; it will delight and boost the morale of our members across the state if their needs are attended to.

"Labour support Transition Committee (TIC) having critically examined cost of governance at each level of government, we believe that money saved from this arrangement will be effectively managed to pay workers outstanding salaries.

"We are hopeful that the released of N75 billion naira to Kwara State from Federation account being over deduction from Kwara State allocation for Paris debts will bring succour to our members in the state, who have been waiting patiently for relief package (bail out) as promised by your government to pay their salaries.

"We therefore appeal to His Excellency to rescue our members from the claws of their creditors due to several months of unpaid salaries," it read.

The communique also appealed to the state government to approve and implement all promotions pending and give cash backing to all nominal promotions done so far at SUBEB, Teaching Service Commission and all state owned tertiary institutions that do not have governing councils.