By Our Correspondent
Developmental projects across the 25 Local Government Area of Delta State may hit the rocks, no thanks to the jumbo pay for the current Chairmen, Vice- Chairmen, Legislative Leaders, Councillors and Secretaries to the Local Government.
Our checks revealed that the Chairmen of the 25 Local Government Areas of the state that were recently sworn-in by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan are being paid N908,312 as Annual Basic Salary (ABS), while the Vice-Chairmen are smiling home with N853,058 as ABS.
A Supervisor is paid N809,300 as ABS, Secretary N809,300 as ABS, Special Adviser N760,076, Education Secretary to Local Education Authority, N760,076 and Chairman, Local Government Education Authority, N120,000 as ABS.
A Chairman in the state gets N3,633,248 as Vehicle loan (400% of ABS); Vice-Chairman, N3,412,224 (400% of ABS), Supervisor, N3,237,200, Secretary, N3,237,200, Special Adviser, N3,040,304, Education Secretary to Local Education Authority, N3,040,304 and Chairman, LGEA, N480,000.
Also, a Chairman in the state gets N2,724,936 as Furniture Allowance (300% of ABS); Supervisor N2,427,900, Secretary, N2,427,900, Special Adviser, N2,280,228, Education Secretary to Local Education Authority, N2,280,228 and Chairman, LGEA, N360,000.
In Delta State, the Annual Basic Salary (ABS) of Legislature Leader is N844,526, Deputy Legislature Leader, N830,000, a councillor, N810,000 and Clerk of Legislature House, N760,076.
The Legislature Leader gets N3,378,100 as Vehicle Loan (400% of ABS), Deputy Legislature Leader, N3,320,000, Councillor, N3,240,000 and Clerk of Legislature House, N3,240,000.
The Furniture Allowance of Legislature Leader in Delta State is now N2,533,575 (300% of ABS), Deputy Legislature Leader, N2,490,000, Councillor, N130,000 and Clerk of Legislature House, N2,280,226.
But an expert on Local Government Affairs who did not want his name in print told National Reformer Newspaper that the jumbo pay for the new Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Legislative Leaders, their Deputies, Secretaries, Councillors and others may leave the Councils pennyless to embark on meaningful projects at the grassroots.
He said; “With the huge salaries, allowances and gratuities of political officers across the local government areas in the state, many Chairmen in Delta State may not be able to embark on developmental projects they promised the electorate as a result of dwindling allocation.”
The expert expressed worry that; “Apart from projects that will not be executed for the people, the Council Chairmen may not be able to meet up too with payment of salaries to workers and this will not be good enough.”
According to him also: “Since the fall in global oil prices which contribute about 95% foreign exchange and about 85% revenue to the federation, most states and local government councils that depends mainly on statutory allocation from the Federal Government will be seriously affected coupled with the jumbo pay, is like putting a square peg in a round hole. The truth of the matter is that local government councils cannot afford to pay salaries, there will be financial deficit, no capital project will be done, borrowing will be the order of the day and this will lead to total collapse in the local government system.”
