..Urge other S/E govs to emulate him
South East Former Councillors Forum, has applauded Gov Alex Otti of Abia State,over what it described as his rare gesture of the payment of all unpaid statutory entitlements of all sets of former councillors in the state.
The body which spoke in a statement issued by its coordinator, and secretary respectively, Hon Chinedu Opara and Hon David Uka, noted that the governor’s action has gone down in history, as the very first time in the region under the present democracy, that a governor demonstrated uncommon leadership compassion, by offsetting a huge financial indebtedness left behind by his predecessors, with the payment of statutory entitlements of former councillors from 1999 till date.
The body stated that before now what used to take place in the region, was what could be called selective payment model, which led to payment of some sets and the leaving off of others, making the governor’s model the first of its kind in the zone.
The statement stated that the third tier of government,like the the federal and state governments, was also a creation of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
It noted, however, that, because of the constitutional provision that placed the control of the tier in the hand of state governments, successive administrations at that level have always relied on that constitutional privilege, to hinder the smooth and dignified operation of that tier of government.
It stressed that some of the well known strategies governments at that level have employed for decades to hamper the full fledged practice of democracy and smooth running of the local government system, were the admiration and management of local governments with appointed officials, and the perennial poor treatment of elected officials, and the staff of the councils.
According to the forum; across the South East Region, and likely the whole country, apart from the unending disruption of the democratic process at that level, elected, appointed and even staff remuneration and other statutory allowances, are often not fully paid them when they’re in service, just as their severance and other due entitlements due to them after leaving office are hardly paid.
That frustrating treatment the group further highlighted often leads to a situation where as soon as they leave office the councillors and other elected and appointed officials return home empty handed, to start struggling poverty, hunger and hardship.
That unfortunate situation the forum pointed out not only makes it extremely difficult for them to take care of themselves and their families, but also exposes them to different kinds of ailments, some of which end up incapacitating them for life, or even costing them their lives.
The South East Councillors Forum emphasized that Gov Otti by his compassionate and humanitarian gesture of paying all sets of former councillors in Abia State, has set a high standard, made history, and restored hope and life to the thousands of the benefitting councillors, and their dependents, even as it further observed that the funds being injected into the state economy with the payment would further boost the economy.
It pointed that it was because of the numerous positive effects of that demonstration of rare leadership, that it decided to applaud and celebrate Gov Otti.
The body while acknowledging that the other governors in the zone were also trying to address the challenge of payment of outstanding allowances owed ex councillors in their respective states, however, urged them to borrow a leaf from Gov Otti, and demonstrate the political will needed to permanently rest the lingering issue.
