โฆprobes non payment of full salary to LG staff, teachers
By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday moved in support of autonomy and abolition of joint account for local governments in the state.
The decision of the House was reached during the Public Hearing for constitutional amendment for an act to alter the provisions of the 1999 constitution on the abrogation of the state local government Joint Account among others.
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), National Union of Local Government Employeesย ย (NULGE), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) among other unions government and NGO supported the backed the decision.
The speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad said the House is reflection of the views of the people adding that the Legislator under his leadership will continue to champion people oriented course and stand by the side of the masses in all its decisions.
He pledged to work closely with other state legislatures across the country to get the required 24 House of Assembly to support council autonomy for the national assembly to pass the bill before the Presidentโs assent.
Many of the participants who spoke during the public hearing praised the lawmakers for raising to the cause of the people adding that local government autonomy is long overdue in the state and will go a long way to resolve the salary crisis in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Adebayo said the government is in full support of autonomy for local government adding that credit must go to the National Assembly under the leadership of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for coming up with the amendment to find lasting solution to the problem of local governments.
Other amended that were also passed by the lawmakers include Independent Candidature and to give NSCDC constitutional backing.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State House of Assembly has began probe of non Payment of full Salary to some local government Staff
The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad gave the indication in Ilorin, in his opening remarks at the investigation of alleged non payment of full January salary to Local Government Workers in the state by the legislature.
Dr. Ahmad, who described Local Government as the closest tier of government to the people, explained that the investigation became expedient to permanently address the problem of payment of workers’ salary, at the council Level.
He said the House would be interested in every detail, which according to him, will assist the parliament in ensuring that all stakeholders were on the same page on the issue.
He however urged the council Chairmen to emulate the lawmakers and embark on farming to serve as alternative means of financing governance and avoid over dependence on federation allocation for survival.
