Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Asiwaju Asiru Idris has said that state is not owing workers 20 months salaries, noting that those who are not on the cleared list are no longer in payroll of the State.
Idris, who made this known while speaking during the monthly Ministerial briefing at NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja on Tuesday, said it is wrong to continue to paint the state in bad light.
He explained that all the cleared civil servants whose name appeared in pay roll have received their salaries up till April while the pensioners have received their pension up till February.
He lamented that those civil servants claiming that state government is owing as much as 20 months are not being fair to the government.
He noted that Governor Yahaya Bello was so magnanimous by pardoning several workers after the appeal. He assured that their outstanding salary would be paid in due course.
The Commissioner also admitted that the debt profile was N102 billion, noting that this comprises of the N33billion debt inherited from the previous administration, 3 months unpaid salaries from last administration, unpaid salaries, pension, unpaid leave allowances among others.
He decried how unscrupulous elements blocked the state from getting N11 billion from government, lamenting they sat down in Abuja frustrating the efforts of the present administration .
Asiwaju maintained that he was shocked that when others state were collecting their own money, only for Kogi the governor has in put place the strategy to ensure that all the outstanding salaries are paid in the next 90 days.
On Kogi Rice Mill, the Finance commissioner stated that the mill would soon be commissioned.
He said that last year the State government cultivated 400 hectares, adding that 800 hectares have been cultivated in current farming season.
The Commissioner posited that the state internally generated revenue had been increased, noting that there are projects scattered across the state.
He hinted that the state government is set to construct 500 kilometres across the state, adding that the projects in place are enough for the 8 years.
