By DADA AYOKHAI
Recent emerging facts have listed primary school teachers, both active and retired, as the major casualty of the ongoing conflict between the Edo State government and the 18 elected council chairmen.
At the heart of the face-off between the two tiers of government is the control of the council funds.
The fierce battle of wits has almost paralysed council activities and the withholding of the salaries and pensions of some categories of workers.
Council teachers are the most affected by the impasse.
They have since cried out about the non-payment of their December salary as well as the 13th-month bonus which was paid to all the state workers
Many of the primary school teachers and pensioners, who spoke to *Borderline News 24*, attribute their financial distress to the ongoing standoff
They further pointed out that it was the councils’ responsibility to pay their salaries and expressed concern that their welfare had been overlooked due to the crisis.
Sources suggest that the delay in salary payments may stem from questions about who is authorized to sign the necessary bank documents for the release of funds.
Furthermore, the non-payment of salaries to teachers and pensioners could potentially disrupt the resumption of schools in January.
Recall that the state assembly suspended the 18 elected council chairmen at the request of the state government.
However, the suspended chairmen challenged their suspension in court and were successful in overturning it.
Despite the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice condemning the state government’s actions—emphasizing the autonomy of local governments—Gov. Monday Okpevbolo and his supporters did not relent
In a swift response, the state government issued a circular aimed at crippling operations within the councils.
The circular also instructed council staff to sever ties with the suspended chairmen, their deputies, and others involved.
Resulting of this action, there is currently confusion regarding who is actually in charge of the councils, while the impasse rages
Edo LGAs Impasse cripples Payment of Primary School Teachers, Pensioners
