Cloud in Delta State over 14 billion Paris Club deductions’ refund

There is growing cloud of uncertainty in Delta State among local government workers, political class at the local government level, primary school staff as well as pensioners over the 14.5 billion naira released to Delta State by President Muhammadu Buhari administration as part of the estimated 153 billion naira released to 14 States, which made up 25% of the 522 billion wrongly deducted by a former administration to service the Paris Club and other loans.

Investigations by Fresh Angle International reveal that the Okowa administration appears to have shut out the mouths of Local Government Chairmen and officials of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE as both key stakeholders have deliberately kept mute on what could be accrued to them after a controversial JAAC meeting that held at Asaba, the State capital Thursday and Friday last week.

The Council Chairmen and Union Officials returned to their various destinations dumb founded and seemingly uncertain how many months the Governor Okowa administration will pay them from their huge salary arrears running up to 10 months.

In what looks like an apparent fear of facing Governor Okowa’s hammer, the Local Government Chairmen have refused to make public statements on the 14.5 billion Paris Club deductions’ refund despite their displeasure.

While a Local Government Branch Chairman of NULGE stated that what came to Delta State from the money was 3086, 000, 000, a very close Aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa admitted in a telephone chat that 14.5 billion was released to Delta State by the Federal Government, but added that a little over 3 billion naira is what belongs to the 25 councils in the State.

The Governor's Aide who muttered on further inquest that the local government workers might get 3 months’ salary arrears, refused to assert the statement and was not forthcoming on what the state government intends to do with the balance 11 billion even though primary school staff and pensioners are being owed at-least four months salaries each.

Fresh Angle International checks reveal that about 3.5 billion would be needed to pay local government workers and their political class 3 months’ salary arrears, but speculations are rife the frustrated local government officials are likely to get only two months pay, even as primary school staff and pensioners are confused as to how much they will get from the widely reported FG largesse.

Governor Okowa in what looked like a reaction to the frustration of the local government workers was quoted to have said on Sunday at Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area that, “it was only in Delta State that some local government councils have the same salary structure with the State government and the Federal government”, adding that “some local government councils have more than 700 persons as staff strength”.               

The Governor was silent on how much came to Delta State from the 153 billion, how many months will be paid to the local government officials, primary school staff and pensioners, just as nothing has been said on the money released to Delta State from the last FAAC.

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