The Kwara State Government has stepped forward to deny an allegation that the state continuously paid the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki monthly salary for four years after he left the State’s office.
The Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Isiaka Gold, reacting to the claims made before the CCT by a detective of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the former Governor received nothing but Pension and not salary as claimed.
He added that the Former Governor, now Senate President’s last salary was a sum of N291,474.00 for the month of May 2011.
He continued that since then, the former Governor has been receiving only pension payment from the state government.
He added that: “From June 2011, former Governor Saraki started receiving his pension, which was N578,188.00 as other past governors in the country,”
In the statement, Gold maintained that after the review of the pensions of former political office holders by the state pension board, Saraki’s pension increased to N1,239,493.94 monthly from October 2014 to date.
“Kwara State Government, therefore, dismisses as false and misleading, the allegation that former Governor Saraki was receiving salaries after the expiration of his two-term tenure as governor of the state,”
He added that “Interested stakeholders should seek clarification from appropriate authority to avoid misleading the public.”