BENIN CITY – Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo State Chapter says Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State does not interfere with the management of Local Government Council Statutory Allocations.
Edo Chapter Chairman of ALGON and Chairman of Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Council, Mrs. Itohan Ogbeide dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman (PDP) Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih that the Comrade Governor had arbitrarily deducted council funds up to the tune of N200 billion resulting in most council’s inability to pay their workers salaries.
Mrs. Ogbeide supported by her counterparts from Owan East, Ovia North-East, Ovia South West, Esan South East, Esan Central and Esan North East Local Government Council emphasised that the Comrade Governor does not deduct any money from the councils’ statutory allocations but rather complements the respective councils efforts at providing democracy dividends to the people through massive provision of education infrastructures including the red roof revolution in the state and provision of schools furniture among others.
The Ikpoba-Okha council boss expressed surprise at the N200 billion allegation, describing it as spurious and lacking in credibility wondering how the PDP chairman came about such bogus figures.
While advising Chief Orbih to direct his energy towards rebuilding his collapsed party following its woeful defeat at the last elections both at the state and the federal level, Mrs. Ogbeide noted that the current economic realities were products of the mismanagement of the country’s economy by the PDP federal government.
She, however admitted that some councils in the state had not been able to pay their workers salaries, a situation she blamed on the dwindling allocation from the federation account due largely to the fall in crude oil price in the international oil market. She was however quick to add that the councils are up to date with the payment of teachers salaries, a development she explained has provoked current protest by members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) who are now demanding that the teachers should also share in the present financial crisis facing the councils.
“NULGE is saying that they should not be the only ones to continually bear the brunt of the financial crisis, they want the councils to also pay them even if it means denying the teachers one month salary”, Mrs Ogbeide emphasised.
She, however expressed optimism that the resources of council would improve to enable them pay their workers, insisting that the council chairmen were not happy with the present situation of their staff as they are determined to ensure they get paid.
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole
