By Emma Amaize

ASABA—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has ordered the release of N3.2 billion from the state’s share of the bailout fund for the payment of salaries to local government workers in the state.

Okowa

He also instructed the chairmen of the councils not to use the money for anything outside the payment of salary to workers.
Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, David Ofoeyeno, who commended the governor, said the release, though a temporary relief, “will serve as an interim measure to cushion the effect of non-payment of workers in the local governments.”

He added, “The governor has also set up a committee to monitor the use of the fund and has directed that it should not be used for anything outside the payment of salaries. He has instructed all council chairmen to use the released money for the payment of salary in the local governments only.”

Vanguard learned that the state government has also released about N2 billion to cushion the effect of the contributory welfare scheme to pensioners in the state. It has also promised to address the 33 per cent increase for pensioners that retired on the old scale.