The Kogi State Auditor General for Local Governments, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has shifted blames for delay in payment of salaries at local government areas in the state on questionable activities of certain staff members.
Ododo, who disclosed the information while speaking about issues militating against the state’s civil service restructuring on Monday in Lokoja, said that refusal of the local government staff to furnish his office with certain documents was the key reason for delay in effecting three months back pay for civil servants at that level.
“We, the citizens, are the real problem of this state, not the leaders,” Ododo said. “It took them a long time to release to us the information we requested for in the approved format. As we speak, some are yet to send us what we need to prepare their salaries.
“Two weeks ago, we asked all the staff at the Local Government Education Authority to send us the list of their staff that have work schedules. Up until this moment, none have complied. So, how do we pay them?”
The Auditor added that cleared teachers at local government level have been paid, in addition to 14 local council staff.
The LGAs paid include Dekina, Okene, Yagba East, Yagba West, Ankpa, Adavi, Ofu, Omala, Lokoja, Ijumu, Mopa Amuro, Idah, Ajaokuta, and Okehi. He reinstated that 48 out of 55 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state have also been paid, while 4280 pensioners would be getting their money latest by Tuesday, June 28th
