Ex-Councilors Demand N500 Million Arrears From Abia Government

FORMER elected councilors, who served from 1999 till 2002 in about 14 councils of Abia State, have urged the state government to pay their outstanding salaries, severanceand other allowances worth N500 million.The councilors,who spoke under the aegis of Association of Elected Councilors of Abia State during a press briefing, claim that court had in 2010 ordered that the payment be effected, a situation which they said made the then Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Agwu U. Agwu ,to direct the affected council authorities to pay same to the councilors.Chairman of the association, Chief Agu Uzomba, who was the leader of Umuahia North LGA, said they were confused when the state governor, Theodore Orji, publicly said all salary arrears and allowances owed local government councilors, including council workers, had been cleared. Uzomba pleaded with the state governor to effect the payment without further delay.Uzomba said: 'If the governor's assertion should be taken seriously, it would imply that somebody somewhere diverted the funds meant for our claims.The governor had given directive for us to be paid, but theMinistry (of Local Government Affairs) seemingly disobeyed these directives. Even though the ministry commissioner demanded for our documented claims, which we submitted, we are surprised to hear him tell us that the documents got lost. We believe that something is wrong somewhere.'According to Uzomba, out of the 184 ex-councilors who are owed by the state, 24 have died.'We appreciate and commendgovernor Orji's developmental strides. But we want to ask him if these projects are for the living or for the dead. If they are for the living, we shouldbe part of such people living to benefit from them,' he said.The state Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner, Mr Emma Nwabuko, while reacting to the issue, queriedthe ex-councilors for digging up the matter 10 years after they have left office.'Why were the ex-councilors not paid while in office' Why should they bring up the matter now' They have to substantiate their claims. The policy of Gov. Orji administration is priority to payment of workers' salaries and allowances as at when due, ' Nwabuko said.
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