Tag Archives: LG

Afenifere rejects LG as basis for recruitment of police personnel.

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The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has raised the alarm over the danger in using local council as basis for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

It said recruitment into the armed forces must follow the laid-down Principle of Federal Character, which is the basis.

The group’s reaction cameon the heels of the simmering crisis between the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and the Police Service Commission (PSC), which ultimately led to the suspension of the recruitment of 10,000 personnel into the force in September.

The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, noted that while the PSC was insisting that the process should follow the constitutional provision of equality of states in line with the Principle of Federal Character, the Senator Abu Ibrahim-led committee wanted the recruitment to be done on the basis of local councils. He also said that the Senate committee insisted that the police force should supervise the exercise as against the service commission, which is statutorily saddled with such responsibility.

He said: “The suspension of the exercise was to allow President Muhammadu Buhari mediate in the dispute between the two bodies but to the consternation of all, the Senate committee recently announced that the President has ruled in its favour.

“We reject this blatant violation of the Principle of Federal Character and the constitutional process on the alter of political and sectional expediency.”

The group said the implication of what is about to happen is that Lagos State having just 20 local councils with a bigger population than Kano State, which has 44, will have fewer representatives in the force.

It also observed that an oil-bearing state like Bayelsa State contributing substantially to the federation pool from which the recruited officers would be paid has only eight local councils and will have just 72 men against Jigawa State, which hardly contributes to the pool but will have 234 men based on its 26 local councils.

It added: “There is nothing that justifies the disparities than the politics of domination and conquest that is at the heart of the volatile injustice embedded in our prebendal politics in Nigeria.”

Governor Ahmed Vows to Sanitize Kwara LG System.

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Ahead of the expiration of the tenure of Local Government Chairmen, the Kwara State Government has vowed to sanitize the local government system in the state in order to make the third tier of government viable and self-sustaining.

The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, made this commitment during a meeting with 2013-2016 local government councillors at the Government House in Ilorin, the state capital. The Councillors had visited to appeal for the payment of their furniture allowance before the end of their tenure.

Alhaji Ahmed said the current recession and the apparent inefficiencies in the third tier of government have made it imperative to reform the management of local councils in the state in order to ensure that they can meet their obligation to the people, especially in terms of salaries and low-level development projects.

The governor noted that by the time elections are held into the Councils, the local governments would have been made fit for purpose through the ongoing IGR reforms and the biometric verification of staff.

He assured them that once the economic situation in the country improves and the government receives expected revenue inflows, the local government councils would pay the councillors and others the statutory allowances and entitlements due to them.

Alhaji Ahmed stressed that current financial challenges in the councils cannot support the bulk payment of all outstanding payments, emphasizing that payments can at best be in installments once the revenue situation permits.

He expressed concern about the salary arrears owed local council workers and the political office holders, which he described as an unfortunate situation and expressed optimism that the situation will soon be remedied.

Stressing that political office is by nature a time-bound call to service, Governor Ahmed urged the outgoing councillors to key into the State government’s SME scheme so as to continue to earn sustainable living after leaving office.

Present at the meeting were the representatives of the councils from local government councillors in the state, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, Chief of Staff, Alhaji Babatunde Abdulwahab, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Haruna Muhammed, Special Adviser, Security, Alhaji Amusa Bello, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Senior Special Assistant, Government House, Alhaji Kayode Ibrahim

Kwara State Government releases N250m Salary Augmentation to LGs

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In keeping with its earlier pledge, the Kwara State Government today released the sum of N250m augmentation approved by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to the 16 Local Government Councils in the State.

 

This was disclosed today by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Demola Banu during a meeting with the Local Government Chairmen.

 

The Commissioner urged the Chairmen to put all necessary machineries in place to ensure that workers are paid before close of business today, noting that the State government has fulfilled its pledge to help LGs pay their workers for the month of August.

 

Mr Banu stated that the chairmen should notify him immediately if they face any challenges accessing the fund so he can intervene.

LG Salaries: Governor Ahmed Approves Release of N250m For August Salaries

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The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the release of N250 million as augmentation for local councils in the State to enable them pay their workers’ August, 2016 salaries in full.

 

According to the State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, the governor gave the approval on arrival from Abuja this evening, following the verification of the figures provided by the 16 LG chairmen in the State.

 

Alhaji Banu said with the approval, the local councils will start receiving the money as from tomorrow (Friday) morning after all necessary documentations are completed . He also expressed optimism that the LG workers will start getting their salary tomorrow.

 

The Commissioner noted that the N250 million will be shared among the local governments based on their specific shortfall in August allocation. Alhaji Banu expressed optimism that the current financial crisis facing all tiers of government in the country will soon be a thing of the past, while also urging the LG workers to be patient with their respective council authorities while the payments are processed.

 

It will be recalled that Governor Ahmed while meeting with LG chairmen and officials of the State chapter of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on Tuesday, expressed the willingness of the State government to assist the local councils to meet their salary on a need by need basis

Salary Bailout: Kwara LGs directed to provide data for augmentation.

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Following the Kwara State government’s decision to assist local councils in the State to pay August salaries, the affected councils have been directed to provide their payroll details and other necessary information.

 

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold disclosed this at a meeting attended by LG chairmen, members of the State chapter of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Head of Service, Hajia Zara Umar , Chief of Staff, and other top government officials.

 

Alhaji Gold said that the councils are also required to provide their staff list, salary requirements for two months and how much they need to augment their August allocation to pay a full month salary.

 

According to the SSG, the information is also required for verification purposes and to determine how much to recommend to the government as palliative for the affected local governments.

 

He expressed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s willingness to help the local governments meet their obligations for the month.

 

It will be recalled that Governor Ahmed during a meeting with LG chairmen and NULGE officials on Tuesday, announced the State government’s preparedness to assist the local councils to pay their staff salaries on a case by case basis.

Kwara State: Government May Assist Individual LGs on Salary Arrears

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The Kwara State government says it is prepared to assist local councils in the State to pay their workers’ salaries on a case by case basis.

The State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed said this during a joint meeting with the 16 LG chairmen and the officials of the State Chapter of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).

The governor frowned at NULGE’s resort to destroying public property and utilizing negative propaganda against the leadership of the State to protest delay in payment of salary.

Governor Ahmed noted that neither the State government nor the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is responsible for the local council’s inability to pay workers’ salaries as wrongly alleged by the protesters.

He emphasized that the nation is currently going through a recession, which has impacted on allocations going to all tiers of government including local governments, which according to him is responsible for the delay in salary payment.

The governor, however, assured that the State government will consider coming to the aid of the local councils on a case by case basis if they adopt appropriate channels to make their demands.

Continuing, he emphasized that the LGs have varying degrees of salary arrears and therefore, urged their chairmen to approach the State’s Ministry of Finance for assistance on an individual basis.

According to him, the assistance will be considered on the basis of each local government’s peculiar case; State government’s available resources and the provisions of the law, as the 2016 appropriation  makes provision for the State government bailout to LGs.

He urged members of NULGE to either approach the House of Assembly for an amendment in JAAC law if they have any objection to its provisions or approach the Executive arm of government if they object to the implementation of the law.

Governor Ahmed also noted that NULGE members can as well approach the Judiciary for a judicial interpretation of the law guiding JAAC rather than taking the law into their own hands.

It’s Criminal To Owe LG Workers 18 Months Salaries- Ize-Iyamu

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The PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday described as criminal the failure of APC governments to pay council workers for 18 months while the state government is allegedly doling out N120 million to female supporters of Governor Oshiomhole.

Assuring the citizens that their weeping would soon be over, Ize-Iyamu was quoted in a press statement issued by his campaign, in reaction to a peaceful protest by local government workers over non payment of their salaries, yesterday.

“It is only a wicked, insensitive and irresponsible governor that will deny the workers their salaries, especially when Oshiomhole just donated N120 million to some selected market women at the Dr. Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Staduim, Benin-City, thanking them for supporting his administration.

‘’How did he spend the $225 million loan he took from the World Bank, which he said would improve the investment climate and increase the internally generated revenue of the state?

‘’How can the governor justify the N18m he pays to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Channels Television at every rally for live coverage – when workers are being owned salaries?

‘’Is it right and just for Oshiomhole to be giving each local government council N18m anytime he goes for campaign, spends millions of naira hiring touts and hoodlums and yet, the welfare of government workers means nothing to him?”

Credit: Vanguard

SDP Opts Out Of Ondo LG Polls

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has opted out of the April 23 local government election to be conducted by the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC).

 
The boycotting of the local government election by the SDP made it two major political parties who have decided to boycott the council poll as the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier decided not to participate in the election.

 
The SDP at its inaugural meeting held in Akure, the state capital Wednesday based its decision on the lack of confidence in the composition of the State ODIEC saying the body as presently constituted cannot conduct free and fair elections.
In the communique signed by the Chairman, Chief Korede Duyile and Secretary, Mr Dele Ogunbameru stated that what the state electoral umpire planned for April 23 is more of selection than election.

 
The party said: “That the SDP noted the preparations being made so far by state government controlled electoral body (ODIEC), and resolved that no responsible political party in the opposition will expect to take part in the election.

 

“That even if any opposition party ventures to take part in the election and win majority of the votes ODIEC will only award few votes to such a party.

 
“That both the state government and ODIEC need to settle all legal encumbrances in regard to the conduct of local government election.”

 

Credit : Today

No Borno LG Under Boko Haram Control– Buratai

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Contrary to the position of Borno State governor, Dr Kashim Shettima, that two local governments in the state are under the control of terrorists, the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, has declared that no Nigerian territory is still in the hands of Boko Haram.

Reports gathered that Shettima made the claim while receiving the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawan, who led a six-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to pay condolence visits to Borno and Adamawa states following the suicide attacks at mosques in the two states on Friday.

Governor Shettima had said: “They (Boko Haram) are presently controlling two local governments in Borno State – Abadam and Mobbar – and partially in Marte.”

However, Buratai said, “It is not true. No Boko Haram is holding any territory. Have you heard them (Boko Haram) making any claims of late? We are more determined and we have more professional soldiers on the ground. We have been trained and equipped and ready to face the challenge posed by them.”

Credit: Leadership

22 LG Chairmen Threaten To Drag Wike To EFCC

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The 22 council chairmen in Rivers State have threatened to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged plan by the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, to order the diversion of the June 2015 federal allocation meant for local governments.

The council chairmen, who are all members of the All Progressives Congress, accused Wike of instructing the state Accountant General to divert the federal allocation meant for the councils for this month.

The state Public Relations Officer of the All Local Government of Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Eyiba, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the reason for the alleged directive from the governor remained unknown to them (council chairmen).

Eyiba warned that apart from the EFCC, council chairmen in the state had resolved to take the matter to other relevant bodies.

“We are also aware that the Rivers State Government under Nyesom Wike has given instruction, though not written, to the Accountant-General of the state to divert the FAAC allocation meant for the 23 local government councils for this month.

 “The reason for this instruction is yet unknown to us. We have resolved to take this unpopular instruction to the appropriate quarters should they go on with their plans, including petitioning the EFCC and related agencies,” Eyiba said.
Read More: punchng

Buhari Should Prioritise LG Autonomy- NLC President

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President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba has asked the incoming administration of Preisdent-Elect, Mohammadu Buhari to prioritise local government autonomy so as to spread development round the country.

Wabba said this at the formal inauguration of new executives of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said “I see the LG system as a catalyst for growth and development and it would not be out of place if the incoming administration takes it as a priority to spread out development in the country.

“If the local government areas are developed, the rancour at the centre will ease.

He lamented that state governors in the past has hijacked resources meant for local government over the years. NULGE’s President, Ibrahim Kheleel also added that “Our struggle for local government autonomy is not over until it is over. It is a genuine struggle, it is a struggle for development.”

Credit: theheraldng