… As the Rivers state House of Assembly Committee on Local Government sets to begin auditing of Income and expenditure across the 23 Local Government Councils in Rivers state.
Gladys Nweke
The Executive Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Obinna Anyanwu has assured that civil servants in the local government will continue to receive their salaries as and at when due during his administration.
Anyanwu gave the assurance while receiving members of the Rivers state House of Assembly Committee on Local Government who paid him a visit at the council secretariat on Tuesday.
The Etche Council boss who promised to align with the three and a half years record of the Executive Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in paying workers’ salary promptly, however, pledged to pay workers their December salaries without delay.
According to him, such a step would be taken in order to allow workers to go home and celebrate Christmas, pointing out that his administration had been Labour-friendly.
Earlier during the visit, Chairman, Rivers state House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Kelechi Nwogu appealed to the 23 Local Government Chairmen in the state to ensure that their workers are duly paid.
Nwogu who represents Omuma state constituency in the 8th Assembly announced that the committee will soon begin the auditing of Income and expenditure across the 23 Local Government areas as part of its oversight function.
He warned that the state House of Assembly will sanction any Local Government authorities that fail to comply with the directive of the Executive Governor and the House.
He said: “I have asked the clerk of the house to write to you because we will also go through the income and expenditures of all Local Governments councils. That will commence any moment from now. We should know how funds meant for all Local Government is being spent”.
“Rivers State House of Assembly will not fail to deal decisively with any Local Government that does not comply with the directive of the Executive Governor and that of the Assembly” he warned