Workers’ Salaries: Oshiomhole Asks LG Chairmen To Pay From Allowances

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has directed Local Government Council chairmen who are owing their workers to pay them from their security votes and their overhead allowances.

Governor Oshiomhole, who gave the directive while meeting with union leaders and some LG Chairmen at the Government House in Benin City, said that he had to take the same steps to meet up with his wage bill at the state level.

”I deeply regret that some local government councils have defaulted in the payment of salaries. The good news is that some local governments are up-to-date in payments to their staff

”We have resolved to block all leakages and free money to pay the local government workers. I fully appreciate the pains of our comrades in our local governments.

”Since I assumed duty here in 2008, I have done everything possible to ensure that the local governments operate fully without interference.”

The Governor reiterated that the LG councils in the state are autonomous to the extent that he does not interfere with their finances but only interferes as he is doing now, to ensure payment of workers’ salaries.

”If you are not able to pay salaries of workers, then you don’t pay yourselves salaries. You cannot be eating when workers are starving. Let both the leader and the workers starve together so they can feel the pain of the workers,” he said.

”I will give you all the support you need so that we can free resources for local governments to meet the obligations of their employees,” Oshiomhole added.