18th September, 2014
Councillors in the 17 local government areas of Plateau state are being owed seven months salaries by the state government, NAN reports.
The councilors, who were elected on 25 February and sworn-in two days later, are yet to receive their take-home packages.
The state government said they must undergo its ongoing Biometric Data Capturing of all civil servants under its payroll, before enjoying their salaries.
NAN reports that for seven months now, the government is yet to conclude the exercise.
Some of the councillors, who pleaded anonymity, said that they were living under the mercies of their council chairmen, who on compassionate ground, approved some stipends for them.
“As I talk with you, I don’t know how much is my actual salary since I have not enjoyed even one month salary since I was elected and sworn-in as a councilor.
“But we are appreciative of our Council Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Goar, who has been very supportive to us as legislators of the council,” the source said.
In Kanam and Pankshin local councils, some councillors said life had not been easy for them and their family members.
“We have to exercise some patience pending when the government would be through with the biometric data capturing of all of us.”
It was, however, learnt that some council chairmen approved the stipends out of the councillors’ furniture allowances, to reduce their hardships.
Contacted, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr John Daduut, confirmed the situation.
“Once the biometric exercise is concluded, the councilors will be paid their salaries,” he said.
“We had a meeting with them on Tuesday and we explained to them the situation simply because we are aware of the problems they are facing due to the non-payment of their salaries.
“We told them that their monies are there, but we can’t pay until the exercise is over; It is not the ministry’s fault but it is state government’s policy which all of us have to comply.”
Daduut, however, blamed some of them for not submitting their profiles to the ministry for the exercise.
“The delay is not deliberate but it is in the interest of the councillors and the state government since salaries of all workers are being paid through e-payment system”.