Lawmakers in Kwara State yesterday approved the request by Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed to access a loan of N2.7 billion from Sterling Bank.
While the House approved N1.5 billion for the 16 local government councils in the state to augment the payment of their October 2015 salary arrears, it also approved N1.2 billion to fund procurement of official vehicles for the state political and public office holders to enhance their performance.
These approvals followed requests from Ahmed in separate letters addressed to the Speaker of the House; Hon. Ali Ahmad, dated January 11 and 13, 2016 respectively and read on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mathew Okedare.
Leading other members in the debate, Leader of the House, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke, said the approval for the loan facility became imperative in view of the dwindling revenue allocation from the Federation Account, adding that payment of salaries to workers was sacrosanct to make workers perform optimally.
He equally explained that the provision of official vehicles was necessary to enhance the performance of political and public office holders in the state.
Other members, who contributed to the debate, expressed confidence that the loan facility, if judiciously used, would help to address the ongoing industrial dispute by teachers at the basic school level.
