Ogun State Government on Tuesday commenced the payment of outstanding liabilities to 526 former local government political office-holders from across the state.
The beneficiaries are the political office holders at the local government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) from 2016–2019 tenure and 2020–2024 tenure.
The beneficiaries, include former chairmen, vice-chairmen, secretaries to local governments, supervisors, special advisers and councillors.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the government said the payment totalled ₦3,503,489,479.56.
He said the settlement of the outstanding liabilities reflected the administration’s policy of ensuring that legitimate inherited liabilities were not left unpaid.
“As a responsible and people-centred government, we have taken the bold step to clear them in full.
“This is in line with the Governor’s policy of not leaving any legitimate liability unpaid,” Akinmade said.
He said the exercise followed verification and reconciliation by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the State Audit Department and the Local Government Service Commission.
Akinmade added that verified beneficiaries had been paid through their bank accounts, while those yet to receive alerts due to account-related issues should approach the ministry with relevant documents.
In their reaction, the former local political office holders hailed the state government for clearing ₦3.503 billion in outstanding severance allowances owed them.
‘This Is Unprecedented,” the jubilant beneficiaries said.
The beneficiaries spoke on Tuesday during the presentation of cheques at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
They described the payment as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to good governance and the welfare of political office-holders.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries,
Hon. Okunade Adebayo and Hon. Abosede Balogun who spoke on their behalf commended the state government for fulfilling the obligation, saying it showed that their contributions to grassroots development had not been forgotten.
They also praised the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for what they described as a seamless, transparent and orderly process.
Another beneficiary, Hon. Emiola Ghazal, a former Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, described the settlement as “unprecedented” in Ogun State.
“This is unprecedented in Ogun State. We never believed a government could take responsibility for entitlements owed by its predecessor despite what the predecessor put the governor through.
“The governor is truly a promise keeper,” Ghazal said.
He added that the gesture showed Governor Abiodun to be “a leader with the milk of human kindness.”
Ghazal further said the development had strengthened the confidence of beneficiaries and grassroots stakeholders in the administration.
He added that it would have positive political implications for the All Progressives Congress (APC) before and during the 2027 general elections.
The beneficiaries urged serving political office-holders to remain committed to quality service and expressed hope that the administration would sustain policies promoting the welfare of workers and other stakeholders.
(vitalnewsmgr.com)
