Edo LG Chairmen To Sacrifice Their Allowances To Pay Workers

 

A crucial meeting was held in Edo state involving the Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomohle, Chairmen of Local Government councils and leaders of organised labour in the state on Thursday the 2nd of July, 2015 to address the looming financial crisis of unpaid salaries of workers in the state Local Government Areas.

 

The outcome of the meeting stipulated that the Local Government Chairmen and their councilors will forfeit their security votes and allowances until the unpaid salaries of workers are taken care of.

 

Oshiomohle regretted the inability of the local government councils to pay the salaries of their workers over time. “I deeply regret that some local government councils have defaulted in the payment of salaries. The good news is that some local governments are up-to-date in payments to their staff”, he said.

“We have resolved to block all leakages and free money to pay the local government workers. I fully appreciate the pains of our comrades in our local governments.

“Since I assumed duty here in 2008, I have done everything possible to ensure that the local governments operate fully without interference”, the governor pointed out.

Furthermore, security allowances, payment to contractors, overhead and other allowances to political appointees have been halted in order to provide funds for the starving local government council workers. According to the Governor, the burden of the crisis will be shared among the unpaid workers, the councillors and LG Chairmen who are not permitted to draw salaries until their workers are paid.

“If you are not able to pay salaries of workers, then you don’t pay yourselves salaries. You cannot be eating when workers are starving. Let both the leader and the workers starve together so they can feel the pain of the workers”.

“I will give you all the support you need so that we can free resources for local government to meet their obligations of their employees”, Oshiomhole added.