The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has released the sum of N16.9million in fulfilment of his pledge to help settle salary arrears owed workers of some local government areas in the state, our correspondent learnt on Tuesday.
The Senate President made good his promise yesterday as payment for the staff of Irepodun local government area in Kwara South commenced.
Announcing the payment in Omu-Aran, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Council, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, said the Senate President released N16.9m to the council towards paying the arrears owed its workers.
Oladipo said the Senate President’s gesture will go a long way in alleviating the challenges faced by Irepodun council workers on account of the arrears which, he emphasized, were caused by a sustained drop in federal allocation.
The council chairman commended Saraki for the kind gesture which he described as another evidence of the Senate President’s commitment to alleviating the plight of local government workers and complementing government efforts to uplift the welfare of Kwarans.
It will be recalled that Saraki had last year pledged to assist in settling local government salary arrears, starting with one from each of the three Senatorial districts in the state.
Saraki’s gesture, which was applauded by local government workers, their leaders including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the populace became a reality following the reconciliation of figures by the parties concerned.
