8 Teachers, LG workers to receive 60, 80% May salaries in Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Haruna Osegba, yesterday said salaries of primary school teachers and local government workers in the 13 councils of the state for the month of May would paid from between 60 and 80 percent.
Osegba who disclosed this to journalists in Lafia after the state’s Local Government Joint Accounts Committee and stakeholders’ meeting, said the total allocation to the local governments in the state for May was N1.37 billion but after all statutory deductions, what was left for distribution was N667million, as against the N752 million shared for March salaries.
“I wish to report that since January, this is the month that we have had the lowest allocation from the federation account. After all statutory deductions, what is available for distribution is N667, 660, 376, 48 kobo. This is barely forty something percent if we cut across the board,” he said.
Osegba however said given the mood and economic realities in the country, the joint accounts meeting had agreed that the ministry should augment the amount to enable local governments and development areas pay workers.
“The Joint Accounts meeting agreed we should source for N302 million to augment. So if we source that, we will have about N1, 28, 926, 834, 40 kobo to distribute and if we use this amount to distribute, we will be able to pay 80, 70 and 60 percent based on the sharing formula.
“Don’t forget that those that got 70 percent last time will get 80 percent. Those that took 60 percent will in this sharing take 70 percent. Those that took 50 percent will now take 60 percent and so on,” he said.
He revealed that all efforts and options had been taken and looked into to ensure that the local government system in the state meets the 100 percent target for salary distribution.
“The government in Nasarawa State is doing its best to ensure that workers in the local governments are paid their entitlements by 100 percent. His excellency promised that we are going to do something about it and we have started,” he added.
He called for the understanding, patience and support of all workers, assuring them that the state government was working assiduously to ameliorate the situation.