Mrs Agatha Goma, Bayelsa Commissioner for Local Government Administration has advised local government chairmen in the state to use the Paris Club loan refunds to pay backlog of salaries of their workers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bayelsa government in December got a refund of N14.5 billion from the Paris club disbursed to states.
In an interview with NAN in Yenagoa on Thursday, Goma said that Gov. Seriake Dickson had approved the release of the local government component of the refund.
“The governor has just approved the release of the local government share of the Paris Club loan refunds.
“As we speak, the Commissioner for Finance and the finance team are working out the details; that is why I cannot give out the figures.
“It is important to note that the state government has authourised the release of the funds and we expect the council chairmen to henceforth revert to payment of full salaries,’’ she said.
Goma commended the state governor for the timely approval of the release of the funds.
She also praised the governor for directing local government authorities to ensure that 50 per cent of the Paris Club fund was committed to staff salaries.
According to her, a reasonable part of the funds should also be expended on people-oriented projects.
The commissioner said the state governor took the decision to release the funds in line with the agreement reached with local government workers who called off their strike in February.
Goma expressed optimism that regular payment of salary would sustain industrial harmony at the local government level.
She urged the organised unions to continue to maintain peace and impress on their members the need to rededicate to the service of the state, shun absenteeism and late coming.
The commissioner expressed delight that eight local government caretaker committee chairmen had demonstrated commitment to staff welfare.
The commissioner urged the unions to support the council chairmen in their efforts at ridding the council’s pay vouchers of ghost workers and fraud. (NAN)
NN/AOS/DUA