RVHA Summons 23 Council Chairmen Over Severance Benefits

The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has summoned the council chairmen of the 23 local government areas of the state to a crucial meeting over their refusal to implement the law on severance benefits to former public office holders of the councils.

Speaker of the Assembly Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree who directed the Clerk of the House to Summon the chairmen and their treasurers to appear before the principal officers of the Assembly on Tuesday May 22, said that the meeting was mandatory.

The matching order followed a motion brought to the floor of the House by Hon. Andrew Miller, member representing Opobo/Nkoro constituency in  the Assembly over non payment of severance benefits to some elected and appointed council officials.

Hon. Miller noted that every elected or appointed public office holder on tenure expects a terminal benefit as prescribed by the State Public and Political Office Holders’ Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits Amendment law No.2, of 2007.

The lawmaker told the Assembly that some vice chairmen, councilors, secretaries,  Supervisors and Advisers of the 23 local government areas are being owed this entitlements since 1999 to 2000, and therefore wants the present chairmen to plan in advance service package for their officials.

He therefore prayed the House to direct all the council chairmen to ensure complete payment of severance benefits to all former office holders in their areas to avoid a situation where these category of officers are subjected to abject neglect and deprivations.

Opening debate on the motion, the leader of the Assembly Hon. Chidi  Lloyd, said it was wickedness of a council chairman to appoint persons to work with him to succeed but fail to pay them their entitlements and urged the House to summon the council chairmen to appear before the lawmakers.

Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Obio/Akpor Constituency I, Hon. Michael Okey-Chindah Obio/Akpor II, Hon. Aye Pepple, Bonny, Hon. Samuel Eligwe, Ahoada West and Onari Brown, Akuku-Toru Constituency I, supported that the  council  chairmen be made to  appear before the House.

Hon. Augustue Ngo, representing Abua/Odual, argued that the mover of the motion would represent the motion in form of an amendment to an existing law to enable it have a bite on the chairmen that fails to comply.

Hon. Victor Amadi, Etche Constituency I, said the House need to know those councils quality of the issues in question since the present council chairmen were not the offenders and urged the House to direct its standing committee on local government to undertake proper investigation with a view to ascertaining the veracity of the matter.