The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Kwara state Chapter, has suspended its 14-day ultimatum given to the state government over the issue of delay in the payment of the salaries of some of its workers.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin shortly after a closed-door meeting which lasted over four hours with state government functionaries, state Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) executives and NULGE officials, the state NULGE secretary, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi, said the government had substantially met the unions' demand particularly the payment of the workers that had problems with the biometric exercise conducted to verify the workers' population.

The Union noted that it had achieved an understanding with the state government, adding that the problem that necessitated the strike notice was caused by a communication gap between labour and the government.

NULGE Spokesperson clarified that the union was not being used or sponsored by the opposition party in the state, adding that local government workers formed the majority of those who elected the present government into power.

He said: "The union was not opposed to the biometric verification on local government workers and the Joint Project Account in the state; we believe that the exercise would help bring development, accountability and value for money in the council areas.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ademola Banu, who led the government side to the negotiation, stressed that the meeting yielded fruitful discussions and understanding with the local government workers in the state, explaining that the delay in salary payment was caused by late release of federal allocation to the state in the past few months.

The commissioner also said that the shortfall in the federal allocation had brought about a fundamental challenge, which he said called for concerted efforts of all stakeholders in the state.

He regretted that the opposition capitalized on the problem at hand to play politics knowing that the shortfall in federal allocation is a general problem that affects all the states of the federation.

Mr. Banu therefore stated that henceforth meeting between the two sides would be made regular to bridge the communication gap and sustain the success achieved.

The Commissioner, who stressed that the State Government hold the workers in the State in high esteem with a pledge that the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration will never subject the workers and the entire people of the State to undue hardship, added that the August salaries of Kwara State workers would be paid this week.