Pension: PDP lied about Saraki – KWSG

The Kwara State government has accused the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party of Spinning yarns of falsehood and deliberately twisting facts in the name of politics.

Gov. Ahmed of Kwara State

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Ishola Gold, the State Government said “Kwara state government does not pay and has not paid to Senator Saraki any payment for utility or domestic allowances upkeep. To date, neither Senator Saraki nor any of his family members has claimed or being paid any medical expenses because to date the former governor has not made any such demand on the state government. Government never built any house for Saraki”.

According to Alhaji Gold, despite Senator Saraki’s entitlements as contained in the law, the former governor has not requested for any provision for drivers, security or domestic staff. So to say that it is because of Senator Saraki’s pension package the state could not pay salaries is totally false and yet again an act of desperation by PDP to raise false alarm.

“We make bold to say that Kwara State pays salaries of its workers on the 25th of every Month or earlier if that date falls within weekend”, the statement reads.

For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, Gold emphasised, Senator Saraki does not enjoy anything more than retired civil servants, especially permanent secretaries who receive their last gross salaries as pension. “What Dr Saraki enjoys from the state is his last salary while in office, which is N1,262,626. Before mid 2012 the figure was only N826,848 monthly as is the norms in most climes, hence there is no bases for comparison between Saraki and the Akpabio saga”, the statement added.

Gold reminded the PDP that though Senator Saraki might be the leader of the APC in the state, he ceased to be governor of Kwara State 3 years ago. “The law was not meant for him, but past governors of the State. However, it is within democratic practise, for any individual or group to initiate bills or amendment of bills in the legislature. The PDP, or any group or individual is not denied such right”, the state government said.

“The truth, which is in public domain, is that Kwara earned just N38.7billion in 2013, and not N49b as insinuated by the PDP, yet the administration is deepening the developing of infrastructure in the State”.

“It is pertinent to point out that the State Government is in the capital market to source bond for the financing of the State infrastructure need; not because the state is broke. It is a universal practise and only sound credit worthy states or nation can get funds from such capital markets”, the statement added.

The state government, therefore, challenges the opposition PDP to support its numerous allegations with verifiable facts rather than seeking popularity through falsehood.