Bayelsa NULGE clarifies indebtedness to LG workers says workers are owed 14 months
FeaturedNigeria July 5, 2017 Arodiegwu Eziukwu
Gov. Dickson
The Bayelsa chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on Thursday clarified the level of indebtedness of local government workers in the state.
The clarification came on the report released by the national headquarters of NULG which listed Bayelsa as the most indebted of 23 states with a salary backlog of 16 months.
Mr Akpos Ekeigha, State Chairman of Bayelsa chapter of NULGE said on Thursday in Yenagoa that council workers were owed 14 months and not 16 months as reported to NULGE headquarters.
“The least is eights and half months and the highest is Ogbia is 14 months.
“”There was a mix-up, I saw the paper on the Bayelsa NULGE Secretary’s table, where they counted two half months as full months and that was the source of the mix up.
“For Ogbia Local Government, they calculated two halves as full months and used it to send a text message to the National headquarters of NULGE,” Ekeigha said.
On the disparity between the claims by Bayelsa government and NULGE, Ekeigha maintained that the arrears stood at 14 months adding that the Commissioner may have been calculating from when she took over.
“I think the Commissioner was talking as at when she assumed duties, for her period the arrears is 10 and half months,” Ekeigha said.
The Bayelsa Government said on Thursday in Yenagoa that it was not owning council workers 16 months’ salary arrears as claimed by NULGE.
NULGE had in a statement issued on Monday listed Bayelsa and Kogi as states with the highest level of indebtedness to council workers.
Its National President, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, alleged that Bayelsa owed between 10 and 16 months while Kogi owed between seven and 15 months to lead the list of 23 states owing salaries.
Dr Agatha Goma, Bayelsa Commissioner of Local Government Administration, in a statement described NULGE’s claims as false and misleading.
Goma said that the indebtedness to council workers in Bayelsa stood at nine and half months.
“The claim is not true. The local government councils in the state owe nine and half months salary with the exception of Ogbia Local Government Council, whose debt is 10 and half months in salary arrears.
“This regrettable situation is not deliberate as no responsible government will intentionally deny its workforce their legitimate rights to salary as at when due.
“The failure of local government councils to meet their financial obligations arose principally because of the unexpected economic recession.
“ The recession has greatly affected the economic fortune of the country as well as the monthly allocation to the local government coffers and indeed all tiers of government,” Goma said.
Reacting to the allegation by ALGON that Bayelsa was the most indebted state to local council workers having failed to pay up to 16 months salary, Jonathan Obuebite, Information Commisioner said the state owed only nine months.
“No LGA is owing more than 9 months’ salary except Ogbia that is owing 10 months arrears.
“But modalities are being worked out to off-set the backlog of salary arrears.
“The said publication (allegation) lacks fact as the situation on ground is different,” he said.
Arodiegwu Eziukwu
