The authorities of Egor Local Government Area of Edo State have begun the payment of seven out of the 17 months salary arrears owed workers in the council.
Egor had the highest backlog of unpaid salary arrears among other affected councils, after it was omitted from the bailout the state received from the Federal Government.
The development had led to several protests, including the mass protest staged under the National Union of Local Government Employees in July.
While confirming the payment during plenary on Monday, the state House of Assembly urged workers in the state to be patient, adding that all the arrears would be paid.
The lawmakers had recently adopted a resolution allowing the state government to access the sum of N366,467,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay the workers in Egor.
The Speaker of the House, Justin Okonoboh, said, “I will like to inform the people of Edo State that Egor Local Government Council workers that have been owed several months have received seven months’ salary arrears.
“I urged all council workers to be patient as they should be encouraged by this that all salary arrears would be paid in subsequent time. They should go ahead with their daily duties diligently.”
Meanwhile, employees of the council have expressed joy over the development.
Efforts to reach the state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Edward Ilenikhena, were unsuccessful, as calls put across to his telephone line were not answered.
PUNCH NG
