By VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — Three hundred and twenty six former local government councillors who served between 1999 and 2003, yesterday, stormed  the secretariat in Awka to open negotiations with the state government for the purpose of settling their unpaid allowances amounting to N1.115 billion.

Some of them had died but their widows were among those who were in Awka to parley with government on the issue.

According to their chairman, Mr. Donatus Okeke, the unpaid allowances include housing, furniture and severance benefits totaling N3.42 million for each person.

Briefing the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike, who received them, Okeke said they were the only set of councillors still owed in the country and pleaded with the state to pay them.

Okeke said:  “Our prayer is that the state government should redeem its earlier promise to clear all the outstanding entitlements owed to retired workers and political appointees, including those who served even before Mr. Peter Obi became governor.

“We appreciate what the governor has done in paying pensions and gratuities of all categories of retired workers in the state and our hope is that he should also consider us.”

Addressing them, Uzodike commended them for being law abiding, in spite of the situation they found themselves since the past 11 years.

He, however, observed that by making the demand at a time election was drawing nearer, the impression would be that they wanted to force government to do something, even as he said that what mattered in the long run was how the issue would be addressed.

He promised to carry their message to the government for deliberation.