The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media & Communications, Dr Muyideen Akorede told UNILORIN FM during a special programme on the recent development in the state, adding that the governor is worried with what families are going through as a result of the current economic challenges.

While denying reports in some sections of the media that the state government takes from the local government funds, Akorede said the allocation to the state which has reduced by 150% is also affecting the local government councils, adding that the state government is not responsible for payment of local government workers' salaries.

He said ''the federal government constitutionally releases local government funds through the state and also set up the Joint Account Allocation Committee comprising of the Commissioner of Finance, the Accountant-General of the State, the Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, all the 16 Local Government Chairmen and Treasurers'', which sees to disbursement of the funds.

He appealed to the workers to remain patient as he will ''continue to do his best to assist the local government to be able to pay those salaries''.

On the ongoing staff verification, Akorede said payroll will be sanitised by the end of the exercise and those who have forged certificates will be prosecuted.