By Tunde Akanbi, Ilorin
To ease the financial burden on local government councils in Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said that the State government is considering a takeover of the funding of Junior Secondary School education from the councils once the financial implication has been worked out.
Governor Ahmed said this while fielding questions from journalists during an interactive radio programme, The Governor Explains on Tuesday in Ilorin.
He stated that the JSS funding and management will be placed under the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), stressing that this will lessen the burden on the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) which is funded through federal allocation to local government councils.
The governor said since SUBEB is not a revenue generating body, it is important for the State government to provide support for the agency which is responsible for the payment of primary and junior secondary school teachers.
Governor Ahmed says his administration is currently reviewing cases of outstanding salaries at local government level in order to save the councils from the present financial challenges.
The Governor who described the current situation at the local government councils as saddening said his government has social obligations to assist local government councils to clear outstanding salaries.
He said the state government would partner the local government councils to fashion out ways of finding lasting solution to the problem.
The Governor urged the councils to partner the Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) to enhance their revenue base with a view to meeting their obligations.
Governor Ahmed advised the councils to look inward and explore their respective potentials to raise revenues and pay salaries instead of relying on stricken federal allocation.
