Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said the previous administration in the state owed local government workers over N11 bn in salaries and gratuities.

The governor who was speaking during a chat with journalists said state workers have been paid about N5bn in gratuities.

He further debunked the alleged impending sack of state workers adding that the salaries they earn help to stimulate the economy by making sure that resources spread to every part of the state. According to him, it is cheaper to maintain civil servants than to sack them.

He said “From the previous administration, salaries, pensions and gratuities were being owed. We are looking at about N11bn at the local government level alone and we are looking forward to next year to cover a large part of that, as we have been doing.

“So, we are going back to the previous administration to clear what they have done wrong. But on our watch, we don't have issues. At the state level, we have paid about N5bn in gratuities and the workers are happy. Nobody is going to be sacked. We need our civil servants, we need their experiences.

“Why would you sack a civil servant when you consider the cost of such action to the state's economy? It is cheaper for you to maintain civil servants than to sack them. So, we are maintaining our civil servants. We are working closely with them”, he noted.

The governor continued, “Civil servants are very happy with us and there is no need to lay off anybody. We have been able to manage the resources to make sure that they get their salaries as and when due. They are not burdens to the state. We do not have issues with civil servants.

“Where we have issues is the liability the former administration left in outstanding promotions of state and local government workers, and we are seriously working on it.”