By Royal Ovo Udjor, Asaba
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Delta State chapter, clarified reports disseminated in a section of the media concerning the N40 billion borrowed to pay pensions of primary school and local government pensioners in the state.
The state ALGON chairman, Hon. Victor Ebonka on Monday July 3rd 2023, shortly after the meeting of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) in Asaba, clarified that it was not the state government that was borrowing the funds.
He further stated that, “In this country constitutionally, we have three arms of government; the federal, the state and local governments. We all have seperated our duties”.
He also stated that it’s was their duty to pay local government staff and primary schools teachers, and the recent chaos was a carry over from the previous administration.
He also stated that the state government did not borrow N40 billion as reported, the only role played by the state government was to give approval and forward same to the state assembly for rectification.
In this regard he said it’s was the local council that are borrowing the money, “You need an approval from the state government and the rectification of the state Assembly, and it’s was granted by the governor and approved by the state house assembly.
“In no moment from now the pensioners will smile home and all the accrued right money will be directly paid to pensioners”, he added.
