AS part of the renewed commitment to impacting the people of the council positively through impactful policies and programmes, staff of Lokoja Local Government Area are to be paid 100% of their monthly salaries.
The Chairman of the Council, Hon Aliyu Baba Usman, who gave the assurance in a speech he delivered at the Council Secretariat in Lokoja, while taking over mantle of leadership said the days of percentage payment below one hundred was over with his return.
Hon Aliyu said his resolve to pay the staff their salaries in full was motivated by the State Governor’s resolution to end Joint Accounting System between the state and Local Government Areas, and praised the governor for such bold action.
Describing the action of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as one taken in the interest of grassroots’ people, the Chairman stressed the need for the staff to reciprocate the gesture by being committed to duty, assuring that their welfare and that of people in the LGA, was paramount to him.
Hon. Aliyu, who promised the people of the area accelerated development in key sectors that would bring succor to the people, praised them for the continuous support and prayers that they accorded him and his team before their tenures were earlier interrupted.
In his words: “I am overwhelmed by the level of support that the staff of this council have accorded me with the rousing welcome as I return to office, but I must tell you it wouldn’t have been possible without the genuine interest of the state governor to seeing that development at the grassroots is entrenched.
“The governor’s pronouncement that the Joint Account Management System between the state and Local Governments is meant to ensure that LGAs are independent of the state so as to attract projects that would impact the rural people adequately. I am therefore assuring you that the days of percentage payment are over.”
Earlier, the Secretary of Lokoja Local Government Chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Bala Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, had assured the Council Chairman of their unalloyed support and commitment to serve better.
On his part, leader of the Council, Hon Musa Ladan, who described their return as one for reengineering of the wheel of progress in Lokoja Local Government, assured the people that they would work in unity with the Chairman and staff of the council to attract accelerated development.
