BY PHILIP EKE, YENAGOA
The Bayelsa State Government will commence payment of salaries of Local Government Council workers on Monday next week, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, has assured.
He also announced a 30 per cent pay cut for all political appointees in the state.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday evening, shortly after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, he stressed that, the 30 per cent slash in salaries was necessitated by the prevailing economic situation.
According to him, the SEC also resolved that payment of salaries would commence on Monday May 16 2016 at the various designated centres including Peace Park, Samson Siasia Sports Complex, DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Izon Wari, Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre and Micro Finance Bank in Yenagoa.
Speaking alongside the Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Mrs. Agatha Goma, Obuebite said, council sympathised with the plight of workers, adding that payment of LG salaries would be based on the recently concluded verification exercise, aimed at ascertaining the actual workforce in the councils and ensure that the right persons were paid.
The SEC, he said, decided to set up two committees to monitor salary payment at the state and local government levels, with representatives drawn from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
He said the Head of Service, Dr. Peter Singabele, would be in charge of the committee for the state mainstream civil service, while that of the LG is to be headed by Mrs. Agatha Goma.
According to him, the supervised payment is expected to further strengthen the verification exercise and confirm the payment vouchers emanating from the 8 local government councils.
Obuebite also explained that, the Bayelsa State Government was to set up farms across the eight LGAs, as part of efforts to boost its internally generated revenue as well provide employment for the youths.
The Commissioner also said the council urged all commissioners to submit within a week, a work plan to guide their various ministries,
adding that the government’s focus in its second term would be to complete all ongoing projects, in addition to the payment of workers’ salaries, within the means of available resources.
Also briefing newsmen, the Head of Service, said the Executive Council directed that all permanent secretaries, heads and chief executives of parastatals and extra ministerial departments as well as all principals of secondary schools and headmasters should prepare an authentic nominal roll and payroll of their various establishments.
Dr. Singabele, however, noted that, council cautioned that the officers concerned would be held directly responsible for any fraud or issues arising from the documents submitted and also pointed out that, measures were being taken to ensure that pensioners are paid as soon as the State Pensions Board is established.
