Ado-Ekiti — Ekiti State government has approved N1.024 billion for payment of October , 2009 salaries of local government workers and primary school teachers in the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Com-missioner for Local Government, Femi Ige, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti.

Ige said this development has faulted the claim by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that public servants in the state and local councils are owed September and October salaries.

He described as self-serving, the 14-day ultimatum issuedto government by the NLC, for payment of September and October salaries of public servants, adding that "issuing ultimatum on salary already paid is not only ridiculous, but self-serving." Ige said all local government workers and primary school teachers in the state have been paid up to October, adding that; "the government will continue to take welfare of the workers and the entire people of the state as priority," and urged leaders of NLC in the state to emulate the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) by assisting government in realising its developmental goals, instead of issuing ultimatum on payment of just one month salaries.