The Federal Government has released allocations to four local governments currently under a state of emergency in Plateau.
The emergency rule was declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in December 2011.?
“Yes the money has finally been released. To God be the glory,’’ Mr Samson Mafuyai, Plateau Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), said in Jos on Friday.?
He expressed optimism that his members shall soon receive their four months’ salary and thanked the Federal Government for heeding the cries of the workers.?
“We have already set in motion a process for the speedy payment of salaries to our members. ’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lack of allocations to the councils – Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos North and Jos South – had led to the temporary closure of the secretariats.?
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, said last week that only senior staff had been reporting to office over the past months.
The State of House of Assembly had consistently spoken against the decision to withhold the finances, arguing that the step was capable of worsening the security situation in Plateau.
The Chairman of Jos North chapter of NULGE, Mr James Nyam, who also confirmed release of the fund to the councils, called on the local governments to pay workers’ salaries as a matter of urgency.
“Our reaction is that of joy. We are indeed grateful to the authorities,’’ he said.
“This morning, I was with the director of finance of my local government for an update on the withheld funds and he told me that everything is at hand and workers’ entitlements will be paid to them next week.” (NAN)