Bayelsa warns ex- councillors against protest over severance package
The Bayelsa State Ministry of Local Government Administration has warned aggrieved former councillors in the state to take their proposed protest over non-payment of their severance allowances to their local government areas, and not Yenagoa, the state capital
In a statement on Tuesday signed by the Commissioner of Local Government Administration, Hon. Agatha Goma, she said it is not the responsibility of the state government or the Ministry of Local Government administration to pay severance allowances to former councillors at the end of their tenure.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is not the responsibility of the state government or the Ministry of Local Government administration to pay severance allowances to former councillors at the end of their tenure. It is indeed the responsibility of the local government where these Councillors served”.
She explained that while it is true that Yenagoa, Brass,Nembe, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma LGAs have been able to defray their obligations to their former councillors regrettably, Sagbama, Ekeremor and Ogbia councils do not have resources to pay now.
According to her, “If the councillors have genuine intention, one would have expected them to stage their demonstration at council’s headquarters where their debtors reside. They have however chose Yenagoa for sinister purpose”, the Commissioner maintained.
Dr. Goma further explained why the Councillors are being owed, “It is a common knowledge that arising from economic recession from 2016, most local governments in the state and elsewhere were not able to meet their financial obligations.
“On several instances the state government due to the magnanimity of His Excellency, Hon. Seriake Dickson had to augment council receipts from FAAC to enable them meet basic financial responsibilities. The fact is that the financial situation is particularly dire for the three local governments. They still owe their staff salaries for the months of November and December 2017 while the other five councils have paid up to date”
She therefore averred that the non-payment of these former councillors is not a case of discrimination or marginalization as being claimed, saying it is a case of lack of the wherewithal to pay by their respective councils.
Goma also acknowledged the right of the former councillors and indeed any Nigerian to public protest, but insisted that “this particular protest is misplaced, misdirected and have the ingredients of turning violent, undermine the law and order and public peace”
She disclosed that the law enforcement agencies have been briefed to deal decisively with anyone who under the guise of demanding for their right, breaches the peace and violates the right of others to freely move in and around the state without any hindrance.
Chris Eze, Yenagoa
