Oyo councils: Makinde says he will pay the sacked officials

Governor Seyi Makinde

Governor Seyi Makinde: reacts to Supreme Court judgment

Governor Seyi Makinde: reacts to Supreme Court judgment on Oyo Councils
Governor Seyi Makinde: reacts to Supreme Court judgment on Oyo councils

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo said on Monday that his government will pay the salaries and allowances of sacked officials of local councils, in consonance with Supreme Court order.

The government in a statement made public in Ibadan said that as a believer in the rule of law, it will comply with the ruling of the apex court.

The ruling given on 7 May invalidated the sacking of the elected officials of the councils.

In the statement rolled out today by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, the government declared that it had demonstrated its commitment to paying off the dissolved chairmen and councillors as far back as February 2020.

This was when its negotiation team, pursuant to the out-of-court order of the Oyo State High Court, offered the council chairmen and councillors the same carrots which the Supreme Court just affirmed.

According to the statement, the Government of Oyo State will comply with the order of the apex court once the details of the ruling are made available.

The statement read:

Related News

“We are on the same page with the Supreme Court of the land on the ruling which ordered the payment of salaries and allowances of the dissolved local governments.

“The apex court in its decision rejected the dissolution, affirmed that the tenure of the council chairmen had lapsed, while also asking that the state pay salaries and allowances due to them till the end of their tenure.

“The Court also awarded a cost of N20 million and asked the Attorney General of Oyo State to file an affidavit of compliance latest August 7, 2021.

“A similar decision was given against the Government of Katsina State, with the same cost of N20 million awarded against it.

“As far as we are concerned, the Supreme Court, by that judgment, made a policy decision, being a policy court. It was apparently sending a message to states in its attempt to protect elected local governments councils.

“Recall that the state government had long before the ruling of the Supreme Court offered to pay the salaries and allowances of the dissolved local government chairmen. The said council chairmen scuttled the bid at the time because they came up with absolute terms, insisting that they must return to the councils with all their aides.

“The government of Oyo State has full respect for the Judiciary and the Supreme Court of the land and as a believer in the rule of law, the state will comply with the order to pay the salaries of dissolved local government chairmen.”

Load more