The Edo State Government said it has advanced the 18 local government councils in the state a loan to the tune of ₦850 million to clear the December salaries of workers while awaiting access to their allocations from the Federation Accounts. This amount was said to have been approved for release at Wednesday’s executive council (EXCO) meeting by Governor Godwin Obaseki to enable the councils clear their salary obligations for the month of December.
A statement signed by secretary to the state government, Osarodion Ogie, said “Due to its prudent management of public resources, the state had settled salaries and pensions of state workers since December 14 from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)” while local governments in the state have been unable to pay December salaries and pension to workers and pensioners due to delay in the release of their FAAC allocation.
Ogie noted that “Since the virtual FAAC meeting of December 18, where ₦675.9bn was shared among the three tiers of government, local governments in the state have been unable to access their funds thereby putting them in dire straits.
“Realizing, however, that local government workers would be hard hit by the delay during the festive season, the Edo State Government decided to advance the 18 local councils in the state a bailout to enable them clear the salaries of their workers”.
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