Local government chairmen and councilors in Edo State are set to reject their salaries, allowances until the salaries of workers are paid in full, Premium Times reports.
The chairmen made the decision during a meeting with the state government and leaders of organised labour.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole
Governor Adams Oshiomhole represented the state government while the local government council delegation was led by state Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide.
The labour delegation was meanwhile led by Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Emmanuel Ademokun.
Governor Oshiomhole said at the meeting: “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,” the governor 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.”
Oshimhole reiterated that the local governments were in full control of their share of the federal allocations adding the security allowance, payment to contractors, overhead and other allowances to political appointees have also been suspended to pay workers.
The governors said the council chairmen and councilors would not to draw their salaries until workers in their councils 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,” said Mr. Oshiomhole.
“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.”
“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 however said his government would not bailout local governments.
The governor also said he held a meeting with leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, just as he expressed disappointment that the members of the association went on strike despite being paid their full salaries.
The governor also said he held a meeting with leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, just as he expressed disappointment that the members of the association went on strike despite being paid their full salaries.
He said: “I had a meeting here with JUSUN executives and I asked them, is Edo State Government owning you any salary, are we denying you any allowances? Do they delay your promotion? And they said no,” said the governor.
“If your salaries are being paid as at when due, your allowances are being paid as at when due, your promotion is granted as at when due, and even your members earn more than the rest of the civil service.”
“If your salaries are being paid as at when due, your allowances are being paid as at when due, your promotion is granted as at when due, and even your members earn more than the rest of the civil service.”
Mr. Oshiomhole noted that the sole purpose of forming a union is to advance the interest of members, adding that the state government approved additional payment for members of the union to underscore the importance attached to their service.
Many other states have either taken pay cuts or forfeited their salaries to pay workers.
Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindo of Adamawa state, has promised to take a pay cut while, Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says he would cut his and his deputy, Mr Barnabas Bala’s, salaries by 50% until the economic situation in the state improved.
Two weeks ago, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state directed the slashing of his salary and travel allowance by 50%, in view of the current economic woes in the state.
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