The
chairman of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Mofe Edema
has explained why council chairmen in the state cannot pay workers' salaries,
noting that allocation from the federal government has drastically reduced.
Speaking
in his office, the Warri South Council Chairman said the council has a deficit
of about three million naira in last December salaries.
While
lamenting that the state of the local government councils was very bad, Hon.
Edema stressed that they are being owed salaries for close to six months now, a
situation he said even the last bailout by the federal government could not
resolve.
He
said, "The Federal Government gave us a bailout which covered only two
months. And since that time of bailout, more months have accumulated. The
allocation for December that I got in January, I got a minus three million deficits.
The one we got in February is eight million plus. So how do we cope with this?
On
the way forward, the council boss called for patience and understanding on the
part of the workers, stressing that these are tough times that needed the
cooperation of everybody to survive.
On
internally generated revenue, Hon. Edema said the council is taking the issue
of revenue very serious this year, adding that the list of contractors that
will be involved in generating revenue for the council were out, while given to
contractors will be paid directly to the council account.
Hon.
Edema who absolved the State government of any blame in the situation the
council s found themselves, said that the State government has been sympathetic
with the plight of the council workers, and have therefore, been augmenting
what comes from the federal government's allocation.
"While
some people are clamouring for the autonomy of the local government, that is
not to say that the state government tampers with our money. Also, if you look
at it very critically, how many local governments are viable? Up till this very
moment, the state government still arguments what comes to the local
government, " Hon. Edema said.
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