Govt denies engaging consultants to pay workers’ salaries

The Kwara Government said it did not engage any consultant to pay its workers’ salaries and allowances of pensioners.

This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Ilorin by Dr Muyideen Akorede, member of the Personnel Database Development Committee.

Akorede, who is also Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Media, said that the government has no intention to contract the payment of salaries of any category of workers to any private consultancy firm.

He said that the Personnel Database Development Committee, headed by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed only engaged a consultant to conduct the staff verification exercise.

He added that the consultant was also developing a robust payroll database for both the state and the 16 local government areas, in order to eliminate illegal recruitment of workers and other payroll offences.

Akorede, however, explained that the payroll database when developed will still be domiciled at the Office of the State Accountant-General and the relevant officers at each local government council.

He stated that immediately the database was completed and handed over to the appropriate authorities, the consultant will not have anything else to do with the payment of salaries, pensions, and others.

Akorede said that the office of the Head of Service still ``remains the clearing house for all staff recruitment and other workers’ related issues in the state.’’

He disclosed that the Personnel Database Development Committee will soon submit its report to the state government, after which it will be made public.