Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State

The 13 Local Governments in Nasarawa State have collectively approved the sum of N160 million to offset the gratuity of its deceased pensioners.

According to Mr Haruna Iliya-Osegba, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the sum was approved by the joint accounts committee involving all local governments and other stakeholders.

Iliya-Osegba told newsmen on Thursday in Lafia, that the money was for pensioners that died between 1997 and July 2016.

He explained, however, that the approved amount was not part of the monthly allocation to the local government pension bureau.

“This gesture is only made possible by the improvement in revenue inflow to the local government coffers from the federation account and other sources.

“Due to this improvement, there was a marginal increase in salary payment to the local government staff in the month of February, to the tune of over N32.3 million.

“The amount payable as salary to the workers for January was N864 million, while that of February stood at N896 million,’’ the commissioner said.

He announced that local government staff would collect their salaries in higher percentages, ranging from 45 to 72 per cent, as against 40 to 70 per cent, received in January.

The commissioner expressed optimism that the era of percentage payment of salaries would soon be over, “given the improvements already being noticed”.

He called for further understanding, patience and support from the workers, stressing that government was working hard to address their plight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the local government workers have had to cope with just some percentages of their salaries since October 2015, a development government had blamed on the general economic downturn.

The workers, however, received their full salaries in December 2016, when the state government got additional funds from the Paris Club loan refund.

(NAN)