South East ex-councillors applaud Gov. Otti over payment of Abia colleagues’ entitlements 

By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri 

South East Former Councillors Forum, (SEFCF), has commended Gov Alex Otti of Abia State, over the payment of all unpaid statutory entitlements of all sets of former councillors in the state.

In a statement signed by the coordinator and secretary of the forum, Hon. Chinedu Opara and Hon. David Uka, the group described the governor’s action as a rare gesture that has gone down in history, as the very first time in the region under the present democracy,  that a governor demonstrated  uncommon leadership compassion.

Opara noted that by offsetting a huge financial indebtedness left behind by his predecessors, with the payment of statutory entitlements of  former councillors from 1999 till date, Governor Otti has carved a niche for himself as a distinguished leader.

The forum observed, “What used to take place in the region, before now, was what could be called selective payment model, which led to payment of some sets and the leaving off of others, making the governor’s model the first of its kind in the zone.”

The group added, “The third tier of government, like the  the federal and state governments, was also a creation of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. 

“However, because of the constitutional  provision that placed the control of the tier in the hand of state governments,  successive administrations at that level have always relied on  that constitutional privilege, to hinder the smooth and dignified operation of that tier of government.

“Some of the well known strategies governments at that level have employed for decades to hamper the full fledged  practice of democracy and smooth running of the local government system, were  the administration and management of  local governments with appointed officials, and the perennial poor treatment of elected officials,and the staff of the councils.

“Across the South East Region, and likely the whole country, apart from the unending disruption of the democratic process at that level, elected,  appointed and even staff remuneration and other statutory allowances, are often not fully paid  them when they’re in service, just as their severance and other due entitlements due to them after leaving office are hardly paid.

“That frustrating treatment often leads to  a situation where as soon as they  leave office the  councillors and other elected and appointed officials return home empty handed, to start struggling poverty, hunger and hardship.

“That unfortunate situation, not only makes it extremely difficult for them to take care of  themselves and their families, but also exposes them to different kinds of ailments, some of which end up incapacitating them for life, or even costing them their lives.

“Gov Alex Otti by his  compassionate and humanitarian gesture of paying all sets of former councillors in Abia State, has set a high standard, made history, and restored hope and  life to the thousands of the benefitting councillors, and their dependents, that  the funds being injected into the state economy with the payment would further boost the economy.

The forum, while acknowledging  that the other governors in the zone were also trying to address the challenge of payment of outstanding allowances owed ex councillors in their respective states, however, urged them to borrow a leaf from Gov Otti and demonstrate the political will needed to permanently rest the lingering issue.