Economy

Kwara State Government to Pay Promotion Arrears

By Web News 853

By Aminah Salako-Adekunle (Ilorin)

Kwara State Government says it will pay one-year promotion arrears for all categories of workers in the state and offset outstanding arrears of local government and State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB workers.

This was part of the outcome of the ongoing negotiations between the state government and leaders of organised labour in the state.

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Kwara State chapter, Muritala Olayinka disclosed this to Radio Nigeria in Ilorin.

Comrade Olayinka stated that the State government has also approved payment of a hundred per cent CONHESS and hazard allowance to health workers at the local government area and, incentives to teachers for working five days in a week during the period of fuel subsidy removal.

He explained that other agreements reached with the government include the implementation of CONPASS and CONTEDISS for tertiary institutions, the 2020 furniture allowance and the 2023 annual conference allowance for the council.

The Kwara State NLC Chairman added that negotiations between both parties are still ongoing in the interest of workers in the state.

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Agriculture

Kwara Govt. Distributes Cocoa Seedlings to Farmers

By Web News 655

Kwara State Government has commenced the distribution of 50,000 cocoa seedlings free of charge as palliative to cushion the effect of hardship caused by COVID-19 pandemic on cocoa farmers in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the distribution of the cocoa seedlings for year 2020 planting season in Ilorin, the state Deputy Govenor, Mr Kayode Alabi said the state government would continue to encourage cocoa production in the state.

According to him the state government had also empowered 50 cocoa farmers to enhance their productivity through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention programmes.

The deputy governor explained that the state government in collaboration with the CBN is establishing cocoa settlement in about three communities in the state to empower the youths.

Mr Alabi also urged the farmers to put in more effort to ensure the success of the programme.

In a remak, the chairman, Kwara State Branch of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oloyede Ezekiel commended the state government for coming to the aid of cocoa farmers at the time of need.

He assured that all the palliatives given to the farmers will be judiciously utilized.

Ali Rabiu

Health

Kwara Set to Distribute 2.3 Million Insecticide-Treated Nets

By Web News 831

Kwara State Government has received 2.3 million insecticide-treated nets to be distributed across 772,648 households to strengthen the anti-malaria campaign in the state.

The Kwara State Director of Public health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Ministry of Health, Gbenga Falade in Ilorin, said the nets were supplied by a donor agency to support the state government.

According to him 5,000 ad-hoc staff will be engaged to ensure adequate distribution of the nets in the nooks and crannies of the state.

Some of the nets to be distributed

Dr Fakayode explained that it was part of the strategic directions of the state government is to reduce under-five mortality and maternal mortality drastically.

He noted that this is being done through significant reduction in the causes of deaths such as malaria.

Dr Fakayode maintained that the distribution network has considered the outbreak of COVID-19, and that adequate PPEs have been provided for the team that would distribute the insecticide-treated nets across the state.

Ali Rabiu

Health

Kwara Govt. Spends over 1.5bn on Covid-19

By Web News 1061 Post a comment

The Kwara State Government, says it has spent over One point Five billion Naira on the coronavirus pandemic (N1,569,107,944.70) between April 1 and June 29.

A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, Rafiu Ajakaye in Ilorin, reveals that running (cost) of activities of the technical committee cost one hundred and thirty three million naira, medical supplies and equipment cost seven hundred and thirteen million naira.

It further reveals that over five hundred and twenty five million naira was spent on palliatives, COVID-related renovation works cost about one hundred and fifty million naira, while security, health workers’ allowances and logistics gulp forty seven point five million naira.

According to the statement, the expenses covers purchase of military grade Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulances; automated ventilators and several other Intensive Care Unit (ICU) gadgets/equipment; production of hand sanitizers; and the cost of running the activities of the technical committee and its subcommittees.

It explains that the expenses also include the cost of the palliatives that were distributed during the lockdown; renovation of the Sobi Specialist Hospital and the Hajj Camp; mass production of face masks, purchase of surgical masks, digital thermometers, N95 and respirator-sperien 5311, other Personal Protective Equipment.

According to the statement, other items include medical supplies and consumables; security expenses; trainings; allowances for medical personnel and other supportive staff in charge of the pandemic; part-renovation of the Offa General Hospital as an isolation centre; and patients’ management, among others. 

The statement which announces that the government has received two hundred and forty three million naira (N243m) as financial donations from private individuals and corporate bodies between March 27th and now adds that a kobo from has not been spent from the donations as the funds have not been appropriated by the House of Assembly. 

Lawrence Afolabi.