Lockdown: Kogi worst hit, difficult to pay workers’ salaries – Finance Commsioner

The lockdown which was ocassioned by the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria has forced a change, even as Kogi State may find it pretty difficult to pay workers’ salaries.

The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Idris Asiru, has said there was a shortage in the federal allocation released on March 23 to Kogi State, a situation he explained pointed to the urgent need to put new fiscal measures in place.

Idris revealed the state had swiftly reviewed the 2020 budget with a view to stimulating growth by prioritising key projects, protecting pro-poor expenditures and ensuring adequate provision for health and education.

According to him, the drop in federal allocation was instrumental to the delay in the payment of January and February salaries.
The Commissioner stressed that the government would look inward to generate revenue that enable it to meet up with payment of workers’ salaries and other commitments.