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RVHA Summons LG Chairmen …Screens ONELGA Council Nominees
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday directed its committee on local government affairs to summon the 23 local government council chairmen, the Heads of Personnel Management (HPM) and the Treasurers to appear before it to throw more light on the issue of non-payment of severance benefits and other remunerations to past political office holders in their various council areas.
The directive followed a motion aimed at directing the state Joint Account Allocation Committee to deduct at source all severance benefits, remunerations and salaries payable to all past political office holders of the 23 local government councils in the state, brought before it by Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani.
Hon Igbani explained that the committee had received various memos and appeals from past political office holders over the non-payment of their severance benefits by their local government councils, adding that the refusal of the council chairmen to pay the affected political office-holders gave rise to the motion.
The lawmaker averred that the House Committee on local government affairs had on several occasions directed the local government chairmen to pay all debts owed former political office holders adding that such directives yielded no positive results.
According to the House Committee Chairman on Local Government Affairs, the severance benefits of past political office holders is statutorily provided for in section 3 and 4 of the State Public and Political Office Holders Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits Law, No. 4, 2002.
He prayed among other things that the House should direct the state Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) to deduct at source all gratuity and severance benefits accruable to all past political office-holders in the affected local government councils and pay directly to the affected officers after confirmation of the status of debts as they affect each local government council. The payments would take effect from December, 2009.
Taking the lead during the debate, Hon Chioma Golden (Etche II) described the motion as a new year package for the former local government political office holders and urged his colleagues to give the motion the desired support.
In their various contributions, Hon Ogiri Henry (Abual/Odual), Hope Ikiriko (AWELGA), Chidi Lloyd (Omohua), Brown Onari (AkULGA I), Nwile Befil Charles (Khana) and Hon Jaja Tamunosisi Gogo (Opobo/Nkoro) commended the mover of the motion for his zeal and effort to bring succour to the plights of the past political offer holders in the third tiers of the government.
The lawmakers regretted that despite several directives given to the council chairmen in the state to pay the severance allowances owed to the past political officer holders in their various local government, the chairmen have continued to flaunt the directives.
The lawmakers however, urged the committee to attach a comprehensive financial statement showing the level of indebtedness as it affect each local government council adding that such financial statement would assist the House take final position on the matter.
Ruling on the matter, the speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry urged the House Committee on Local Government Affairs to get an updated records owed to the past political officer holders across the 23 local government area in the state as well as to invite the council chairmen, treasurers and Heads of Personnel Management (HPM).
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