Taraba Govt. begins payment of 5-month LG salary arrears

The Taraba Government has begun the payment of five months’ outstanding salary arrears owed local government workers across the state’s 16 council areas.

Mr Godfrey Dame, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs, on Tuesday flagged-off the payment in Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area.

Dame said that the payment followed Gov. Agbu Kefas’ directive to clear the arrears owed local government workers since 2015.

He said that beneficiaries would receive one month of the outstanding arrears at a time, with subsequent payments to be made monthly until the five months were cleared.

“Today’s exercise is in compliance with the governor’s directive to pay the five months’ outstanding arrears owed to local government staff.

“The payment covers local government workers, primary school teachers and retirees across the 16 local government areas,” Dame said.

He said that the arrangement was designed to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries were captured in the payment process.

Dame urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture through greater commitment to their duties and support for the administration.

Comrade Bajison Damuga, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Taraba State chapter, commended the governor for approving the payment.

Damuga described the decision as a relief to workers who had been affected by the outstanding salaries.

He urged local government employees to reciprocate the gesture through punctuality, discipline, dedication and improved service delivery.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Usman Buba, expressed appreciation to the government for beginning the payment.

Buba said that the payment would provide relief to workers who had faced financial difficulties due to the outstanding arrears.

Earlier, Mr Umar Badaware, the Chairman of Ardo-Kola Local Government Council, commended the government for the ‘worker-friendly decision’.