The Kwara State government has responded to the 72-hour ultimatum issued by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the non-payment of November 2024 salaries for local government workers.
Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the Commissioner for Finance, revealed in a statement from Ilorin on the 17th of December, 2024, that the affected workers either failed to register with the state residents registration agency (KWSRRA) as mandated since July 2024 or faced other unresolved issues. She emphasized that the government had already briefed labour leaders on the matter.
“At least 97% of all the state government’s 18,466 employees have been paid their November salary and bonus,” Dr. Nuru stated.
Breaking it down further, the commissioner disclosed: “97% of the SUBEB teachers and employees have been paid their salary for the month, while the pending 3% are those without KWSRRA bonafides.
“For the Local Government Areas, 77% of the workforce has been paid, while 23% remaining are those who have not complied with the KWSRRA requirements.”
Despite this, the labour union, through its Secretary, Comrade Isiah Elachochi Eugene, issued a stern warning, noting that about 75% of local government workers spanning the 16 LGAs were still unpaid for November.
These include members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
The NLC’s ultimatum calls for immediate payment of the withheld salaries or the state risks facing industrial action.