The Nasarawa state government has described as false the reports of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) that it diverted 4.3 billion naira bailot funds meant for the payment of local government area workers in the state.
The ICPC had on Saturday, published in the Nations newspaper that Nasarawa state received 8.9 billion naira bailout in two trenches and disbursed N3.9 billion with a balance of N4.3 billion without payment of LGA workers salaries.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Aliyu Tijani described the information as false saying
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura on receipt of the said amount, immediately disbursed the sum of 4.3 billion naira to the 13 LGAs of the state on October 23, 2015.
He explained that " the sum of N2.2 billion is required every month to pay 100% of the Local Government Staff Emolument, however, the LGAs in the state had two and half months outstanding arrears amounting to 5.6 billion for the month of July-September, 2015.
Tijani explained further that" the allocation for August , 2015 was received and cannot in anyway pay 100% salaries but 50%, therefore, the amount received as bailout was added to the August statutory allocation in the sum of N1.2 billion to give a total sum of 5.6 billion naira which has taken care of 250% of LGAs staff salaries.
The Commissioner also said that the funds were not paid through e payment but directly to individuals accounts, through cheques in order to make assurance that only genuine staff receive the payment.
Tijani also, queried why no investigative agency came to find out the correct information on how the bailout funds for the LGAs were expended.
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