Local government employees in Delta state have raised a special appeal to the state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for funds that would be devoted exclusively to the payment of salaries in the state.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the State made the appeal after the Governor commenced the offset of payment of salary arrears, in lieu of which he approved the release of over N800 million.
The State government had in a statement signed by its Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, said the State is not owing its workers salaries, stressing that it has paid all workers to date and that it has also consistently given financial support to the Local Government Councils to enable the payment of salaries of workers.
However, at a campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming local government elections at Oleh, Isoko South and Ozoro, Isoko North local government areas of the state, Gov. Okowa made a promise that with the State’s rising revenue profile, his administration will assist local government councils to lessen salary burden.
TheNewsGuru reports, not too long, therefore, Gov. Okowa approved the release of over N800 million to offset payment of local government workers salary arrears in the State.
In a communiqué issued by the State Executive Council (SEC) of NULGE and signed by its Secretary, Comrade Peter Ene, the union applauded Governor Okowa for stepping in to ensure local government workers salaries are paid.
The communiqué, which was issued after the meeting of the SEC of the union, expressed appreciation to the governor for the approval and release of more than N800 million to facilitate the gradual payment of outstanding salaries accrued from 2015 to 2017.
The union, while calling on the governor not to relent in his determination to clear all outstanding salary arrears as well as satisfy the desires of council workers in the state, despite dwindling revenue accruing to the state, urged him to see the project as a divine call and assignment that should be driven to a logical conclusion.
“In this direction, it is our humble plea that His Excellency, just as he has done, should continue to avail us some funds that would be devoted exclusively to the payment of salary areas.
“We are, however, not oblivious of the enormous sacrifices Your Excellency would be making in this regard, but we do hope that the smiles on the faces of local government workers would suffice to gladden the heart of His Excellency,” the communiqué, made available to TheNewsGuru, read.