Kwara Earmarks N8.1b For State, Local Govt Workers’ Gratuities

The Kwara state government has earmarked N8.1 billion to pay gratuities to retired state and local government staff.

The commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuhu, disclosed this yesterday at an inter-ministerial briefing in Ilorin, the state capital

She disclosed that N5.6b would be disbursed to state retired workers for gratuities, while N2.5b has been earmarked for local government retired workers’ gratuities.

Nuhu assured that the state government would continue to gradually offset pensions and gratuities so that it can attend to other developmental projects.

She explained that pensions and gratuities had tripled due to the implementation of two salaries and wages – N30,000 and N70,000 minimum wages, with their consequential adjustment for retirees.

She asserted that the state government owed no local government retiree except those who refused to show up during the verification exercise conducted at all 16 local councils in the state.

“Those complaining are few, and they need to come forward and complete their verification exercise and collect their money.”

Nuhu said the monthly internally generated revenue was about N15.7 billion, while the state’s domestic debt stood at N57 billion.

The commissioner also clarified the insinuation that new levies would be imposed on the residents,  explaining that “no new levies in 2026, but rather, the government is presently streamlining the existing taxes and will become effective from January 2026.