The Kwara State government has responded to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its ultimatum regarding the withholding of November 2024 salaries for local government workers in the state. The NLC had issued a 72-hour deadline for the state government to pay the affected workers, warning of possible industrial action if the salaries are not released.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Ilorin, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the state Commissioner for Finance, explained that the delay in payment affected workers who had not registered with the state’s Residents Registration Agency (KWSRRA) as required by a government directive from July 2024. She clarified that this issue impacted only a small portion of workers, with 3% of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) teachers and 22% of local government workers still pending clearance.
Dr. Nuru further explained that 97% of the state’s 18,466 employees had already received their November salaries and bonuses. This includes 97% of SUBEB teachers, while only 3% of them were unpaid due to incomplete KWSRRA registration. Regarding local government workers, 77% had been paid, with 23% still awaiting clearance for not complying with the registration requirements.
The statement also noted that the state government had briefed the labour leaders on the situation, providing context for the salary delays.
The NLC had earlier criticized the delay, stating that approximately 75% of the workers, particularly those employed by the 16 local government areas, were yet to be paid. This group includes members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
