RVHA Summons LG Chairmen …Over Unpaid Severance Benefits

Rivers State House of Assembly has summoned the 23 local
government council chairmen of the state.

The invitation followed a motion titled “to compel Local
Government Council Chairmen to promptly pay severance benefit as at when due to
elected and appointed Local Government Officials,” sponsored by Hon Andrew
Miller representing Opobo/Nkoro constituency.

Hon Miller maintained that the condition of the individuals
who served their local governments as vice chairmen, councilors, supervisors,
and advisers has become pitiable at the end of their tenure in office because
they were denied their benefits by the chairmen of the council.

He also explained that the Rivers state Public and Political
Office Holder’s Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefit (Amendment) Law No. 2
of 2007 stated that every elected or appointed public office holder on tenure
expects a terminal benefit.

The lawmaker prayed the house to direct all local
government  council chairmen to ensure
complete payment of severance benefits to all former political office holders
in the state.

Leader of the house, Hon Chidi Lloyd said the motion is
timely, adding that the house should invite the 23 local government council
chairmen in the state to brief members on why they failed to comply with the
law of the state.

Hon Onari Brown, in his contribution urged the house to
mandate the council chairmen to continue to reserve the severance benefits at
the end of the month to enable them meet with the demand, stressing that the
process should be set in motion to avoid re-occurrence.

Also speaking, Hon Victor Amadi representing Etche Constituency
I, urged the house to invite all former local government chairmen to explain
why they failed to pay the past political office holders in their various local
government councils.

The speaker, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree mandated the clerk of
the house, Mr Emmanuel Ogele to invite the 23 local government chairmen to
appear before the house last Tuesday.