Edo Guber: APC Candidate Okpebholo Sympathizes With Local Government Workers, Says He Will Clear Pending Salaries of Local Governments Within First 100 Days

Edo Guber: APC Candidate Okpebholo Sympathizes With Local Government Workers, Says He Will Clear Pending Salaries of Local Governments Within First 100 Days

Edo 2024: Igbo Community Supports Okpebholo

APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to clear all outstanding payments within his first 100 days in office if elected governor.

The senator made this announcement through a statement released by Prince Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media for the APC Campaign Council.

He expressed concern over the plight of local government employees in the state’s 18 local government areas (LGAs), with workers being paid salaries ranging from one to 13 months.

Despite improvements in local government allocations, there are indications that many employees have not yet received all their entitlements, and some local governments are still unable to implement investment projects.

According to Okpebholo, the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki has withheld funds allocated to local governments, forcing chairmen to go to Sterling Bank in Benin to sign off on appropriations that never reach their accounts.

“It is not only an evil act on the part of Governor Obaseki to be in the process of dealing with local government allocations, but it is also unacceptable that funds and allocations due to local governments are being withheld,” Okpebholo said.

The breakdown of salaries due to local government employees, as published by the APC Campaign Council, is as follows:
Orhionmwon LGA: 13 months
Egor LGA: 5 months
Ovia East (Iguobazuwa) LGA: 6 months
Oredo LGA: 2 months
Ovia West (Okada) LGA: 3 months
Uhumwonde LGA: 2 months
Ikpoba Okha LGA: 1 month
Esan West LGA: 6 months
Igueben LGA: 4 months
Esan Central LGA: unspecified
Esan North East LGA: 2 months
Esan South East LGA: 2 months
Etsako West LGA: 6 months
Akoko-Edo LGA: 2 months
Owan East LGA: 5 months
Owan West LGA: 6 months
Etsako East LGA: 2 months
Etsako Central LGA: 6 months.

The total outstanding salaries and deductions amount to N4.5 billion.

The Senator went on to assure all Edo Local Government employees that if elected, his administration would not only clear the arrears but also ensure timely payment of salaries in the future. He also promised to release full allocations due to local governments, enabling them to undertake capital projects and promote development in rural areas.

“A vote for Senator Okpebholo is a vote for progress, development and solid partnership between the state government and local governments,” Afegbua added in the statement.