18th August, 2016
The Niger House of Assembly has advised Gov. Sani Bello to pay outstanding salaries owed local government employees in the state before the end of August.
This is contained in a resolution passed the House following a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker, Husseini Ibrahim (APC-Agaie), under matters of urgent public importance.
“Twelve local governments in the state are being owed salaries; some partially between May and July 2016, and that is rather unfortunate.
“The affected workers have family members and other dependants to cater for; and this issue will have very grave implications on elected office holders and our party as a whole,” Ibrahim told his colleagues.
Contributing, the Minority Leader of the House, Bello Ahmad (PDP-Agwarra) attributed the problem to the governor’s decision to abolish the State/Lcoal Government Joint Account system without recourse to the legislature.
“The pronouncement of the governor on joint account without falling back to the House is responsible for this problem.
“The House had passed a resolution asking the governor to revert to status quo on this joint account issue in line with the provisions of the constitution until otherwise prescribed by the State House of Assembly,” he said.
The House thereby resolved that the state government should comply with the constitutional provision of joint account and revert back to it.
In a related development, the House has passed into law the 2016 Budget of the 25 local councils of the state.
This followed the consideration of the report of joint committee on local government, finance and appropriation.
The House later adjourned plenary to September 29.