1st July, 2016
All is not yet settled between the Ogun state government and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ogun State council, as the union has challenged the government to publish details of how it expended the bailout fund from the Federal Government.
The union faulted the state government claim that the bailout fund was used to service the outstanding arrears of salaries/deductions of local government workers. NULGE described it as a mere political propaganda.
The NULGE leadership had accused the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration of diverting the N9.1 billion bailout fund meant to pay salary arrears of the state government employees, including that of the 20 LGAs, for other purposes.
The union disclosed that the administration did not settle the outstanding arrears of salaries and deductions of local government workers with the bailout fund.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Union President, Comrade Olatunji and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the State capital.
The State government had last week held separate meetings with the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and the NULGE leadership in Abeokuta.
The government team was led by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa.
Despite the state government explanation on how every kobo was expended, Olatunji in the statement “challenged” the government to publish in details how the loan was spent “for public consumption”.
The NULGE President described as “mere government propaganda, face-saving and cover-up” the alleged directive to HOLGA to write a communique to diffuse the claim of NULGE leadership on the bailout fund.
According to him, “At the end of the meeting, the government submitted that
the bailout fund was used to pay salaries, allowances/leave bonus of primary school teachers between July – September, 2015, ditto for local government staff (excluding leave bonus/other allowances).
“This is apart from paying the primary school teachers as well as other civil servants in the state part of their outstanding arrears of salaries and deductions for which the bailout fund is meant for without consideration for the outstanding of local government workers.
“The union frowned at this presentation while it raised question on how the federal allocation to local government within the periods July – September, 2015 were spent because it was not captured in their presentation at the meeting.
“As a result, the union reiterates its earlier position that the bailout fund was not extended to service the outstanding arrears of salaries/deductions of local government workers as claimed by the state government”, the statement read in part.