By DADA AYOKHAI
The leadership of the Edo state council of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, is warming up for a showdown with the management of Esan South-East Local Government Council of Edo state over the non-remittance of deductions from its members in the local government, to the National Housing Scheme, NHS,
as well as those meant for the cooperative, running into millions of Naira.
The President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Edo State, Comrade Lazarus Adorolo warning indications when he led the Union’s Leadership on a visit to Esan South-East local government Council, Ubiaja on Thursday 24th August 2023 as part of its working visit to the 18 Local government councils in the State.
According to him, “the management of this local government council has up till Thursday next week (31st August 2023) to remit the deductions it has made from our members for the National Housing Scheme otherwise the Council Secretariat will be shutdown.”
The Union lamented the non-remittance of over 20.4million Naira to the National Housing Fund (NHF) at the Federal Mortgage Bank since 2018 when the scheme started. It stated that despite several complaints, warnings and meetings with the Head of local government Administration and the Director of Finance, the situation did not change.
Similarly, Edo State Secretary of NULGE, Barr. Olumuyiwa ‘Cole while briefing Newsmen after the state council’s visit to the council secretariat said “we are left with no other choice than to enter into a showdown with the management of the council. How do you explain a situation where you deduct funds from workers, as their contribution towards a scheme in which they are to benefit from but you fail to remit same to the appropriate quarter. So what is the desirable benefit of such worker then?
“Following this development, we are giving Esan South-East Local Government Council up to Thursday next week (31st August)do the needful else risk shutting down the system at the council secretariat.
NULGE said the level of default of the local government management in non-remittance of deductions made from workers salaty for NHS, Cooperative and others, running to millions of Naira is highly provocative, unbearable and unacceptable to us.
The Union expressed its unhappiness over the apprehension of workers over the fate, safety and assurance of remittance of these deductions when politicians take over the administration of the local government.
