The Kwara State Government announced on Tuesday night that 97% of its 18,466 employees have received their November 2024 salaries and bonuses.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, explained that the remaining 4.5% who have not been paid either failed to register with the Kwara State Resident Registration Agency (KWSRRA) as instructed since July 2024 or have other unresolved issues.
The announcement followed a plea from the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which urged the government to release the unpaid November salaries of workers across the 16 local government areas. The NLC, in a statement by its state secretary, Isiah Elachochi-Eigege, claimed that about 75% of local government workers had not received their November pay. The affected employees include members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives.
Responding to these claims, the government clarified that 97% of teachers and employees under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) have been paid, while the remaining 3% are those who have not registered with KWSRRA. For local government workers, 77% have been paid, with 23% still unpaid due to non-compliance with the KWSRRA requirements.
“These figures contradict claims that 75% or 45% of the workforce has not been paid,” said Babatunde Abdulrasheed, Press Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, speaking on behalf of the commissioner. He noted that the government had earlier engaged with NLC representatives, providing clear data on the payment status and guidance for workers who are yet to receive their salaries.
The statement urged genuine employees who have not received their November salaries to validate their claims through KWSRRA and the Ministry of Finance.
“The registration exercise is aimed at ensuring accurate data, improving security and cleaning up the payroll system. It is a critical initiative that all residents should support,” the statement read.
The government reassured workers of its commitment to prompt salary payments and resolving outstanding issues to ensure no genuine employee is left unpaid. It also called on labour unions to support the transparency initiative, which is designed to benefit everyone in the state.