Wike Tasks LGs On Salaries, Security …Swears-In 19 CTC Chairs

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has charged newly sworn-in chairmen of caretaker committees of local government councils to pay salaries of workers and in full.
To ensure that the directive is followed to the letter, Wike called on the state Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) to ensure the payment of outstanding salaries owed to local government council workers in the state.
Swearing-in 19 local government caretaker committee chairmen at the Government House, Port Harcourt last Monday, Wike said before the release of imprest and security votes to the council chiefs, salaries must first be paid.
The governor said that his administration will monitor the pattern of expenditure of the local government areas to ensure that funds are deployed to areas that will promote the interest of the people.
He noted that the local government caretaker committee chairmen must get approval before they access their security votes and imprest.
“All salaries owed local government workers must be settled before any security votes are released to the caretaker chairmen. We must uphold the welfare of workers at all levels”, the governor said.
He warned local government heads of personnel management and treasurers against colluding with caretaker committee chairmen to negatively manipulate the financial process in the councils.
Wike said: “If any Local Government Head of Personnel Management or treasurer colludes with a caretaker committee chairman to release unauthorised funds, such official will be sanctioned”.
The governor directed the local government caretaker committees to always remit taxes deducted after the payment of salaries.
While congratulating the caretaker chairmen on their respective appointments, the governor advised them to interface with security agencies to promote law and order.
Shortly after the swearing exercise, CTC Chairman of Etche Local Government, John Wokoma, told newsmen that apart from paying workers salaries, he would ensure the full implementation of the amnesty programme to return peace to the area.
The Chairman of CTC in Obio/Akpor LG Council, Collins Onunwor, said he will liaise with security agencies to create peaceful atmosphere for business and citizens.
The Caretaker Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government, Kenneth Chisom, assured that he will focus on sanitation to rid the area of filth, and also promised to incorporate youth into governance.

Thessalonica Bof Amangoli