NEWS
Council Polls: Okowa Releases Meager N800m To Offset Backlog Of Councils Workers’ Salary Arrears
Ahead of local government elections in Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has approved for release a pantry sum of N800million to offset backlog of salary arrears owed council workers in the state.
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Sources disclosed that the state Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has commenced the offset of payment of salary arrears to council workers.
BigPen Online recalls that Okowa had recently promised to assist local government councils across the state to lessen their salary burden during a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign rally for the next set of chairmen and councillors for the local government councils.
Meanwhile, the State Executive Council (SEC) of the Delta State chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has confirmed the release of more than N800million by the governor in a communique signed by its Secretary, Comrade Peter Ene over the weekend.
NULGE, in its communique however applauded Governor Okowa for his pragmatic steps in ensuring the respect for workers’ right to their salaries and display of genuine concern for local government service and exhibition of good intentions for the welfare of workers
The communiqué, which was issued after the meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) of the union, expressed appreciation to the governor for the approval and release of more than N800million to facilitate the gradual payment of outstanding salaries accrued from 2015 to 2017
In the same vein, the union restated its renewed support for the Okowa administration as it reaffirmed its loyalty and commitment, adding that as an important stakeholder and sincere partner in the success of the present administration, it would do everything within its power to facilitate the success of the SMART Agenda for grassroots development and empowerment.
Pointer newspaper had reported that NULGE, 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 drive to its 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 for 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”
While expressing their confidence in the governor’s ability to clear all outstanding, NULGE said that by so doing, Senator Okowa would have engraved his name in gold as a Comrade Governor, who sacrificed for the overall interest of workers.
“NULGE in Delta State, in collaboration with the National Secretariat would hold a solidarity rally and award presentation to appreciate His Excellency for offsetting these salaries,” the statement noted.
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