Kwara not cash strapped – Ahmed

The Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has affirmed that Kwara State Government remains buoyant and liquid as all financial obligations such as payment of salaries, contractors and other expenditures are duly met.
Ahmed, who made this assertion on a monthly interactive programme, ‘The Governor Explains’, said: “There is no magic to our been able to remain liquid other than the fact that we have been able to manage our expenditure within our revenue profile.”
Ahmed emphasised that no local government council in the state would retrench any worker as a result of their recent financial challenges and salary arrears, as the councils have streamlined their expenditure portfolio to manageable size to avoid past experiences.
He noted that salary arrears of council workers have been cleared and now a thing of the past.
Ahmed said his administration was committing about N70 million for palliative repairs on the Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile Road, a federal road that links the state to Osun State, in order to make it more motorable, adding that the contractor to carry out the palliative measure will be mobilised to site before the end of the week.
Dr. Ahmed explained that the state government intervened in the Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile Road because of its strategic location as a link road to Osun State, adding that other federal roads in the state would also enjoy similar intervention.
On the Kaiama-Kisi Road, which links part of Kwara North Senatorial District, the governor said bidding for the construction of the road was on and contract for its construction would soon be awarded by the Federal Government.
Governor Ahmed added that the Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency is empowered with a monthly allocation of N30 million to ensure a pothole free road across the state.
On flood, Governor Ahmed said it was imperative that people in the affected areas move to safer zones on a permanent basis, adding that the state government has spent over N40 million on relief materials for flood victims in the state.
He commended the Federal Government for releasing N300 million as relief fund for flood victims in Kwara State.
According to the governor, traditional rulers of the flood affected communities were involved in the enumeration of flood victims in order to ensure that only affected people are given relief materials.