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In press statement by the campaign organisation on Thursday, it said the diversion and misapplication of the local government’s allocation by Oshiomhole-led state government was responsible for the inability of many of the local government councils to meet their monthly obligation to their workers.
The campaign organisation therefore called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate how nearly N400 billion that the 18 local government councils got as federal allocation — in nearly eight years was spent.
‘’Records from the Federal Ministry of Finance show that the 18 local government councils in the State have received nearly N400 billion, as federal allocation in nearly eight years. This is outside the internal generated revenue the state also collects on behalf of the council monthly’’, the statement stated.
‘’And from what we gathered from many of the council authorities, Oshiomhole only pays each local government chairman or sole administrator N1.7 million monthly as security allowance — from the allocation, and the councils do not know how the huge balance is spent.
‘’So, Governor Oshiomhole lied when he said the state government was not responsible for the failure of local government authorities to pay their workers. He diverted and misapplied their funds for personal interest, and he must account for the huge funds.’’
Describing Oshiomhole’s boast — that he met the monthly wage obligation to the state workers, as ‘’empty and bare’’, the campaign organisation said that there is no way the out-going governor wouldn’t have been able to pay less 2,000 workers with the huge financial resources accruing to the state monthly.
The PDP campaign organisation added, ‘’Edo State government today has less than 2,000 workers, compare to eight years ago, when workers on the payroll of the state government were over 13,000. Adams Oshiomhole has decimated the state civil service his government inherited nearly eight years ago. So, he should not see his ability to pay less than 2,000 workers monthly as an achievement.’’
Hundreds of local government employees and pensioners recently grounded the state capital during a mass protest over their unpaid salary arrears and pension ranging from 10 to 18 months.
The protest, which drew aggrieved NULGE members from the 18 local government councils, left one of the workers dead, after he slumped during the demonstration.
While sympathising with the workers over their current woes, the statement added that the PDP governorship candidate, if elected would respect the full autonomy of local governments, saying the autonomy would also go with huge responsibility.
The campaign organisation said that Pastor Ize-yamu would be transparent and accountable in the use of public fund, and also ensure that the public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit.
The statement further added, ‘’Contrary to Oshiomhole’s corrupt tendencies, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu believes that once elected, a governor should be subject to codes of conduct and other requirements for financial and other disclosures.
‘’He strongly believes that transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for prevention of corruption, in all critical areas of the public sector.
‘’Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will promote actively the involvement of non-governmental and community-based organizations, as well as other elements of civil society in order to raise public awareness about dishonesty and corruption in public services.’’
Signed
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisationn.
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