By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed,  has approved the release of N892, 482,648.38 to  the state-owned tertiary institutions to clear the backlog of salary arrears owed their staff.


This follows the release of another N1billion by the State government to
the sixteen local government councils in the State to augment their allocation 
for the payment of November 2016 salaries and pensions.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, who spoke 
in Ilorin  Wednesday, noted that the approved fund is part of the N5billion 
received by the State government from the Federal Government as
its share of the London and Paris Club loan refunds.

Banu added that the funds would be disbursed to the institutions in
monthly installments, stressing that the money is in addition to the current 
monthly subvention received by the colleges.

The beneficiary institutions include the Kwara State Colleges of Education
in Oro, Ilorin and Lafiagi; College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies
(CAILS), Ilorin and the Kwara State School of Nursing, Oke-Ode.

Banu expressed optimism that with the release of the funds, the
affected institutions would be able to clear all the backlog of arrears
owed their workers, adding that the colleges would also be able to ensure
regular payment of their current salaries.

The Finance Commissioner stated that the State government is working hard
with the management of the colleges to find a lasting solution to the
salary crisis affecting the schools, while also stressing that the
government is committed to ensuring that the salary crisis at the local
government level is resolved soon.