…to pay 14 months salary arrears  to council workers

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

NATIONAL President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE,  Ibrahim Khaleel, has said that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has assured that his government was doing everything possible to  settle the salary arrears owe council workers in the state.

Khaleel equally disclosed that the governor had pledged 100 per cent commitment to the attainment of local government autonomy, noting that one of the panacea to end the nation’s underdevelopment is to grant full autonomy, politically and financially, to local councils in the country.

According to him, the governor gave the assurance during a meeting with the national leadership of NULGE at Government House, Asaba, when the union took its local government autonomy sensitisation campaign to Delta State.

Gov. Okowa

The NULGE National President noted that Governor Okowa promised to  use all the second tranche of the Paris loan refund to offset part of the  salary arrears owed the workers, as soon as the money was received from the Federal Government.

Pledging his total commitment and support, Governor Okowa pointed out that any leader who desired the good of his people and the development of the grassroots as well as the nation at large, must support local government autonomy.

Khaleel, who expressed satisfaction on the promises of Governor Okowa, also commended the governor for his understanding and readiness to work for the realization of the freedom of local government, being a beneficiary of that system.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, he lauded the promise and commitment of the Delta State governor.