In apparent reaction to the recent radio announcements and text messages signed by the Commissioner for Information, Imo State, Chinedu Offor, inviting chairmen and councilors to the Local Government Service Commission for payment of May 2011, and July 2012 salaries, the councilors in Ohaji/Egbema and Njaba legislative councils have asked the state government to apply caution in its action.
In its executive session held on Wednesday 29th August 2012 at the legislative chambers, Mmahu, the councilors resolved that the approval by the state government is wrong taking into consideration that salaries and allowances of the local government officials, political appointees and civil servants are not paid at the Ministry of local government but at the respective LG headquarters through vouchers and cheques, originated, approved and signed by the executive chairmen, DAGs and Treasurer of the LGAs.
While asking the Governor to invite the executive chairmen of the 27 LGAs to a JAAC meeting and disburse the local government statutory allocation from the federation account, the councilors led by Hon (Mrs) GC Okenwa stated that they will collect their monthly salaries after the JAAC meeting at the LGA headquarters and not the LGA service commission.
In a similar development, the Njaba legislative council has stated that it does not and has no intention to mandate, authorize, direct or appoint anybody to act or negotiate on their behalf concerning the salary payment.
According to a resolution of the councilors dated 31st August 2012, and signed by all the 11 councilors representing all the wards, the “Njaba legislative council has not mandated any person to receive ay payment on her behalf or negotiate any settlement to waive off our outstanding tenure of office for financial bribery or any self seeking opportunity”
“The Njaba legislative council views it as an act of wickedness for any arrangement excluding or which does not consider the interest of all political appointees of the Njaba local government council” warning that any person or group who goes into any form of negotiation does so at his/her own risk.
The legislative council who has Hon Joshua Akagbusum as leader passed a vote of confidence on the entire ALGON leadership under the leadership of Ruby Emeka and Barr Enyinnaya Onuegbu, the PDP leadership at all levels as well as on the leader of the councilors, Hon Akagbusim.
