Salary arrears: Bayelsa NULGE clarifies stance on payment of LG workers

The Bayelsa chapter of  the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), on Friday clarified the level of indebtedness of local government workers in the state.

The clarification came on the report released by the national headquarters of NULGE which listed Bayelsa as the most indebted of 23 states with a salary backlog of 16 months.

The leadership of NULGE had published the list earlier in the week against the backdrop of diversion of the Paris Club refunds by state governments.

The refund was targeted at offsetting salary and pension backlogs at the state and local governments to reflate the economy.

Mr Akpos Ekeigha, State Chairman of the union, however,  confirmed in Yenagoa on Saturday that the council workers were owed 14 months salary arrears  and not 16 months.

“The least is eight and half months while  the highest is Ogbia with 14 months.

“There was a mix-up, I saw the paper on the Bayelsa NULGE Secretary’s table, where they counted two half months as full months and that was the source of the mix up.

“For Ogbia Local Government, they calculated two halves as full months and used it to send a text message to the National headquarters of NULGE,” Ekeigha said.

On the disparity between the claims by Bayelsa Government and NULGE, Ekeigha maintained that the arrears stood at 14 months adding that the Commissioner may have been calculating from when she took over.

“I think the commissioner was talking as at when she assumed duties, for her period the arrears is 10 and half months,” Ekeigha said.

The Bayelsa Government said that it was not owning council workers 16 months’ salary arrears as claimed by NULGE.

NULGE had in a statement issued on Monday listed Bayelsa and Kogi as states with the highest level of indebtedness to council workers.

Its National President, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, alleged that Bayelsa owed between 10 and 16 months while Kogi owed between seven and 15 months to lead the list of 23 states owing salaries.

Dr Agatha Goma, Bayelsa Commissioner of Local Government Administration, had in a statement described NULGE’s claims as `false and misleading.’

Goma said that the indebtedness to council workers in Bayelsa stood at nine and half months.

“The claim is not true. The local government councils in the state owe nine and half months salary with the exception of Ogbia Local Government Council, whose debt is 10 and half months in salary arrears.

“This regrettable situation is not deliberate as no responsible government will intentionally deny its workforce their legitimate rights to salary as at when due.

“The failure of local government councils to meet their financial obligations arose principally because of the unexpected economic recession.

“The recession has greatly affected the economic fortune of the country as well as the monthly allocation to the local government coffers and indeed all tiers of government,” Goma  said.