Date: 2012-10-25

The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Kwara State has commended the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for the payment of outstanding salaries of Local Government workers in the State, even as the state government has released another N193m to augment the initial N555m released from local governments' excess crude account for the immediate payment of staff salaries.

The Deputy President of NULGE in Kwara State, Mrs. Omotope Aina, made the commendation on Wednesday when she led the leadership of the Union on a-thank-you-visit to the Governor at the Government House in Ilorin.

Mrs. Aina said the offsetting of the salary arrears of local government workers and their October salaries, through the intervention of the State government was a manifestation of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's love for the workers in the State.

The Union leader said through Governor Ahmed's intervention it had become clear that the state government operates an open door policy. "You have relieved the workers the nightmares of celebrating sallah without our salaries. The happiness you have brought to us will also resonate in your household and the government of Kwara State", Mrs. Aina prayed.

Mrs Aina affirmed that NULGE in the State was not a troublesome body but one with the mandate of promoting the welfare of its members.

The NULGE President described Governor Ahmed as a leader who has shown that there is hope for the common man in Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed emphasised that any responsible government must be people oriented.

According to him, "government is about the people and must remain for the people".

Governor Ahmed commended the NULGE leadership for its maturity and assured then that the administration will continue to operate an open door policy for the good of the people.

The Governor reiterated the state government's intervention was to plug noticeable loopholes in the finances of the Local Governments in order to finally resolve the challenge associated with payment of salaries and other overhead costs.

He assured NULGE that henceforth local government administration in Kwara State would now be run more effectively and efficiently as modalities for financial discipline have been put in place.