…..Sets up committee on salary payment

By Dayo Johnson

Akure —A truce seems under-way in the troubled Ondo State House of Assembly as the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN has mediated between the warring lawmakers.

Consequently, the sealed House of Assembly may be opened any moment from now on the order of the governor.

This is coming as the state government set up a committee on the payment of outstanding salary arrears to the state’s civil servants from August 2016 to January 2017.

A committee set up by the governor, has the Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi, as chairman.

Governor Akeredolu on Monday night met with the 13 lawmakers loyal to the Speaker, Mrs Jumoke Akindele in his office. The deputy governor was  at the meeting.

He had earlier met with the other 13 lawmakers led by Malachi Coker last week.

Akeredolu

Both factions are expected to hold a joint parliamentary sitting next week where  a way forward is expected. Akindele is expected to preside, resign and a new speaker elected by the 26 lawmakers.

Vanguard gathered that another meeting of the governor, his deputy and other stakeholders with the 26 members of the House of Assembly would hold at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor’s office today.

Meanwhile, the committee which held its inaugural meeting yesterday has as members the Head of Service, Mr Toyin Akinkuotu, Mrs F B Ogundipe Permanent Secretary Min of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Mr Laolu Akindolire (Accountant General), Mr S O Adegoke (Auditor General), Mr Bode Ajigbolamu (Director, Central Pay), Mrs Bosede Daramola, Chairperson, NLC, Mr Sunday Adeleye Oluwole, JNC Chairman, Dr. Bunmi Eniayewu (NULGE President) and Mr Bayo Philip Secretary, Service Matters who will serve as the Secretary of the Committee.

Their terms of reference include: “To calculate the arrears of salaries from August 2016 to January 2017. Establish the cause(s) of the  unpaid salaries.” Recommend to government ways and means of effective payment of all arrears of unpaid salaries in  and suggest ways of ensuring payment of workers salaries as and at when due.