Former local government legislators and executives in Kwara State that served between 1999 and now have held a peaceful protest over their entitlements backlog in Ilorin, the state capital.
Under the aegis of the Kwara State Ex-Councillors Forum, the ex-legislators appealed to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to offset their unpaid entitlements.
Speaking during the protest, chairman of the forum, Hon Fatai Adebayo, said the present administration was yet to fulfill a promise it made three years ago on the matter.
According to him, while they appreciate the pressure on the finances of the state, they urge the governor to approve and direct the payment of their outstanding benefits for 1999-2002, 2004-2007, 2007-2010 and 2013-2016.
He also appealed to the governor to ensure the payment in view of the impending Eid celebration and resumption of their children in school.
He further said, “Should the payment be effected, the forum shall be more appreciative and be committed to serving our communities and the government better.
“We are about 1,850 in number, from 1999 till date, and the arrears initially was over N3bn, but the previous governments paid part in installments.
“We have met Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over the issue, and the leader of the House of Assembly, Hon Magaji Olawoyin, but nothing has come out of it yet. We are using this opportunity to further make our appeal to consider us for payment. The total money we are expecting now is over N350m.”
Responding to the issue, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Aliyu Saifudeen, called for patient.
According to him, “They have written to us and we are aware, but these are backlogs from previous governments. Nobody has told them the government will not pay, but they should be more patient in the light of the dwindling resources and recent wage increase.
“They have the right to protest, but this government is equally not insensitive to the welfare of all its citizens; they are not an exception.”
