Kwara LG Outstanding Gratuities around N21bn
The Executive Secretary of Kwara Local Government Staff Pension Board, Smaila Oyelowo, says the backlog of arrears of local government staff gratuities since 2009 is in excess of N21 billion.
Oyelowo stated this on Monday in Ilorin while testifying before the retired Justice Matthew Adewara-led Panel of Inquiry into the alleged diversion of N300 million monthly from local government funds in Kwara.
He said that the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration inherited over N21 billion in backlog of gratuities. He also disclosed that N30 million released monthly for gratuities before May 2019 had now been increased to N100 million monthly to gradually defray part of the outstanding debts.
He said “We approached the newly elected state government to jack up money being released for the payment of gratuities and that was expressly granted. Now, on monthly basis, we are receiving N100 million to settle gratuities. But because of COVID-19 pandemic, we got N60 million in June. In July, it has been raised to N100 million again.”
The Executive Secretary, however, called for the adoption of contributory pension scheme as a solution to the issue of backlog of arrears.
Oyelowo also said that the board was unaware of any deduction from local government funds. “We only prepare vouchers for the payment of pension for the consultant engaged for its payment while we concentrate on the issues of gratuities. The board does the collection of the details of new pensioners, upgrades the payroll and forward these to the consultant for payment.”