By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Local Government. Councillors Forum has appealed to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum as a matter of urgency to impress on the state Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs to direct the 27 LGCs Executive Chairmen to pay their outstanding furniture, accommodation and severity for 2020 to 2022.
The forum also thanked the APC National Deputy Chairman, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Governor Zulum , his Deputy, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur, Borno State Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Meleh and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Bukar Tijani for their respective esteemed and impressive role in addressing the problems and challenges their members have been going through in the past three years.
The Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Jidda Tom Hassan, who made the appeal on Sunday at a press briefing with journalists in Maiduguri, said so far only 11 out of the 27 LGC executive chairmen have complied.
He noted that there were earlier directives and approvals from the governor to the ministry to impress on the LGCs Chairmen to settle all the outstanding arrears of the 1,008 LGC councillors that served the state.
Jidda added that out of the 11 LGCs Executive Chairmen that paid only Biu, Shani, Hawul, Damboa and Gwoza LGCs were able to pay 50% of their outstanding allowances from Borno South Senatorial District and only Mafa LGC paid 25% of the allowances with promises to settle all the outstanding allowances within a short period
Similarly, in all the Borno North Senatorial District, he said only Mobbar, Guzamala, Monguno, Magumeri ahd Kulawa LGC Executive Chairmen were able to pay 25% of the outstanding allowances so far , promising to be paying remaining 25% every month till the total amount is settled.
He lamented that despite all the efforts and appeals, 16 LGC Executive Chairmen out of the 27 LGCs have failed or refused to pay any member of the forum his or her outstanding allowances.
Hassan maintained that during this difficult moment, several members of the forum fell sick and died while others naturally passed away without enjoying their allowances after serving the state meritoriously .
He however, called on Governor Zulum not to relent on his efforts to come to their aid and pressurise in the LGC Executive Chairmen yet to settle their outstanding allowances despite the executive and ministerial approvals respectively on the payment of the allowances.
The Chairman of the forum urged the members to continue to be prayerful and patient with the state government and LGC Executive Chairmen, pointing out that, the forum executive members are still pursuing the matter vigorously as well as impressing on those concern to sympathize with the forum members and come to their aid.
The Secretary of the forum, Hon. Ibrahim Burna Jere, also lamented on the inability of the LGC Executive Chairmen, who refused to cooperate and assist the forum members settle their arrears upon approvals from the governor and commissioner .
He also called in the Borno State House of Assembly (BOSHA) as a matter of importance and in the overall interest of democracy to urgently impress on all the 27 LGC Executive Chairmen to settle the forum members’ outstanding allowances, while pledging their continuous loyalty, obedience and support to the state government and house of assembly.
