The Local Government Council workers and Primary Schools staff in the State are now wearing smiling faces as their backlog salary arrears hit their bank account.
The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Ika North East Local Government Council, Comr. Corliss Azikiwe disclosed this to journalists during an interview in his office on Thursday, November 1, 2018.
READ ALSO
According to him, “The Ika North East Council workers and the government primary schools staff in the area are now wearing smiling faces as their long awaited backlog salary arrears are paid. The months owe by the 25 local governments in the State differs, but ours is five months and forty-five percent (45%).
We had three months and forty-five percent in 2016 and two months in 2018. But with the release of the Paris Club refund which the Federal Government at first withheld that of our State, the state government has been able to clear all salaries arrears owe the staff who are in the local government pay roll. By this good news, I hereby state that the backlog salaries arrears of Ika North East Council workers and government primary schools staff in the area are paid.
In a week time, the October salary will also be paid. I want to use this medium to thank our governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in a special way for fulfilling his promises that as soon as the Paris Club refund is released that our backlog salaries arrears would be paid.
Truly, the governor has proven again to be a man of his words, just as his chieftaincy title ‘Ekwueme’ implies. I am thanking the Okowa for not taken a selfish position first by looking at what it will cost him to execute his 2019 general election, but rather chose to look at what will benefit the masses in consonant with his campaign slogan: Prosperity for All Deltans. As I speak there is no single local government staff in the State that by the end of tomorrow will not have received his or her bank alert. We say, ‘thank you’ to our amiable governor Okowa”.
Comr. Azikiwe while thanking God Almighty for the wisdom given to Okowa to consider the welfare of his people not himself alone, said some leaders would have considered expenditure, especially now that election is around the corner and knowing that election in Nigeria is highly demanding. He said that for this singular honour done to them, that he is pledging the total supports of the Ika North East Council staff towards Okowa’s reelection bid.
“Some will say that I am commending the governor because he is from our local government. No, rather I am doing so because of the genuine action he has taken; as not just only our local government staff backlog salaries arrears were cleared but the rest of the twenty-four local governments. His good deed went round, so he deserves our commendations without sentiments. Therefore, nothing should hold anyone back from saying ‘thank you’ to Okowa for his magnanimity. Even as I speak as the mouth piece of Ika North East Council staff, I also speak directly the mind of my state Chairman, Zico Chukwuelofunam Okwudi. I know Okwudi is filled with joy as a high burden was lifted off his shoulder even as the council staffs before now were speaking evil of him”.
While thanking the Ika North East Council Chairman, Hon. Barr. Victor Ebonka for being proactive, he said the chairman alongside Head of Personal Management and the treasurer of the council have not rested in making sure that the salaries are paid.
Comr. Azikiwe concluded by thanking the Council workers in the state for their patience, and prayed for Okowa’s victory in the forthcoming general election.