Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has urged the Local Government Chairmen in the State to ensure prompt payment of their staff salaries.
This, the committee said, was for effective service delivery at the grassroots and to improve the standard of living of the local government staff and that of their family members.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Mohammed Alkali, gave the task when the Ministry for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, as well as the Department of LG Pension of the State Pension Bureau, appeared before the committee on their 2022 budget assessments.
Hon. Alkali has expressed dismay at the delay in the payment of local government staff salaries by some local government chairmen and called for a change of attitudes.
” We don’t know why after Chairmen have received their allocation from the federation account and Joint Account Allocation Committee ( JAAC) meeting held by them.
” Some Local Government chairmen will delay the payment of their staff salaries.
” Some will pay immediately while some will pay their staff after one week or two weeks, why?
” Why is it that some local government chairmen are delaying the payment of their staff salaries after allocation from the federation account?
” It is given this that we want to call on the local government chairmen under your ministry to ensure prompt payment of their staff salaries,” he noted.
Alkali has assured of the committee’s continued determination to support the ministry and department of Pension to address their challenges.
He also urged the ministry to intensify efforts to supervise the activities of local governments for the overall development of the state.
The Lawmaker has assured of the committee’s effective synergy with the state government to address grassroots challenges.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of the ministry Yusuf Turaki has expressed his joy to the committee for its continued support of the ministry at all times.
He has also appreciated Gov. Abdullahi Sule for giving attention to the Ministry and called for its sustenance.
The Commissioner told the committee that the payment of local government staff and pension is up to date.
Also appearing before the committee is the Department of Local Government Pension of State Pension Bureau where Mr. Yusuf Aboki, Director of the department, who led the delegation appreciated the committee for supporting their activities.
Mr. Emmauel Michael Ombugadu, the Director of Finance and Account (DFA) while briefing the committee on the department budget performance said that the state government needs over N27 billion to offset gratuities and death benefits to over 8000 LG retirees and death staff from 2000 to date.
According to him, Over 8000 retirees and death staff gratuities and death benefits files were processed with over N27 billion naira projects needed to pay them.
“First and foremost, we want to appreciate you for the support you are giving to us.
“We also want to thank His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule for giving his attention to the pension bureau to succeed.
“The support we have received and still receiving from Gov. Sule and you has improved on the standard of living of retirees and that of their family members,” he said.
The DFA has assured of the board’s continued determination to improve the well-being of the retirees and their family members.
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