Local government councilors in Kwara State have sought the intervention of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the non-payment of their eight-month salary arrears as their tenure ends in November this year.
The 193 serving councilors, under the auspices of Kwara State Councilors Forum, also demanded the payment of their severance and furniture allowances put at N2.4 million each.
They, however, claimed that it was the local government councils that were owing them.
The Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Opeyemi Adeojo, said the appeal became necessary because their tenure would expire on November 10, 2016.
The councilors, who said that they had been facing series of challenges since inception of office, added that the situation had made it impossible to make meaningful impact in their wards.
“Our furniture allowance, which ought to have been paid within the first three months of our tenure, is yet to see light of the day.
“We also appeal to the governor to help facilitate prompt payment of our severance allowance of about N1.2 million per councilor in order to offset our loans in the banks and some individuals we are indebted to in course of our tenure so as to save us from pathetic embarrassment. The debt may even have adverse effect on our political pursuit and advancement”, he said.
They also called on the governor to intervene in the matter so that role of their late members from Offa, Ifelodun and Isin local government areas, who died in active service, would be recognised.
The councilors, who said they were aware of dwindling Federal allocation to the state in recent years and the assistance of the governor in the payment of salary to council workers, appealed to the governor to look into their matter.
They claimed that they had impacted their various communities with the provision of boreholes, repair of boreholes and provision of instructional materials in schools as part of their responsibilities to the electorate.
