Nasarawa to clear backlog of workers’ salaries with N4.5bn Paris club refund

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Wednesday acknowledged that the state government has received the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund to the tune of N4.5 billion.

Al-Makura disclosed this during a meeting with leaders of organised labour in the state at the government house in Lafia, where he stated that out of the amount, N2.9 billion would be for the state government, while N1.6 billion would go to the local governments.

Accordingly, the fund will be used for payment of the backlog of two months salaries owed civil servants in the state in line with the directives of the Federal Government.

He said that government would commence payment of one-month salary arrears to workers from next week, as the money for the local governments would also be used for payment of arrears of pension to retired civil servants.

Al-Makura explained that local government pensioners, who retired before 2011 would get their full benefits, while those from 2011 to date would get 50 per cent of their entitlements.

According to report credited to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the state’s organised labour recently suspended its two-month old strike following agreement with the state government for the payment of their salary arrears, amongst other entitlements.