Oyo govt. releases N13bn for LGs workers, pensioners

THE Oyo State Government on Wednesday said that it has disbursed over N13bn to settle the average of about 5months salaries owed local government workers and primary school teachers as well as their pensioners in the state.

Mr. Bimbo Kolade, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, who disclosed this in Ibadan, stated that the N13,739,592,266.24 released to the Ministry from the office of the State’s Accountant General comprised of the April, May and June allocations for Local Governments in the state and a share from Paris Club Re-fund.

Kolade said that N13,739,592,266.24bn was inclusive of SUBEB funds, explaining that N3,088,014,271.45bn was released for April, N3,396,208,585.99 for May and N5,255,369,408.80bn for June while N2bn was released for Local government workers and pensioners’ welfare by Governor Abiola Ajimobi from the refunded second tranche N7.9 Paris Club fund.

The Commissioner charged all Caretaker Chairmen to be prudent with the fund, expressing optimism that outstanding salaries of some 15 Council areas put at an average of 2months will be offset.

He cautioned the Caretaker Chairmen against over bloated staff strength which he said always make it difficult for them to offset their wage bills promptly, urging that they should limit their ad-hoc staff to only those they can afford to pay their bills as at when due.