By DADA AYOKHAI
The Oredo local government area is in the news again
This time it is over the non-payment of the salaries of the council chairman, Dr Tom Obaseki, his deputy as well as other political office holders including the elected councillors
The belief in some quarters is that this situation is a direct consequence of their refusal to comply with the Edo State government’s demands.
The council chairman has decided to take up the issue with the relevant authorities and has written a strongly worded letter to the Head of the Local Government Administration in the local government demanding to know the rationale behind the delay
Political observers, however, believe that the “embargo” placed on the salaries of both the elected and political appointees may be a government form of punishment for not “complying” with the order of the state government .
Recall the governor had surreptitiously, in concert with the state assembly, issued an order for the suspension of the 18 elected council chairmen in the state
All hell broke loose as “sponsored political thugs”, even in the full glare of security agencies, invaded the councils to execute the order of the state government.
Despite the series of intimidations and other forms of bullying, the Oredo Council remained the last man standing, as the elected councillors remained adamant and refused to bulge
There were even reports of skirmishes in the other councils which suggested the involvement of the state government in the illegality.
*Borderline News 24* learned that two months’ salaries are involved – December and January respectively
An infuriated Dr Obaseki has, however, taken the matter up with relevant authorities to uncover the reasons behind the delay.
In a letter addressed to the Head of Local Government Administration titled “Urgent Request for Explanations on the Non-Payment of Salaries,” Dr Obaseki questioned the rationale behind the delay.
He mentioned those yet to be paid and they included himself, his deputy, elected councillors, and other office holders such as special advisers, supervisors, and special assistants
Dr Obaseki also stated that the optics of deliberately withholding the salaries of the Council’s top echelon are not good for local government autonomy.
Expressing deep concerns about the situation, Dr Obaseki decried the woes those affected have been made to endure while calling for the reversal of the “inhuman order”
In the letter, he revealed the two batches of those affected by the non-payment
The first batch includes the elected councillors not paid in January 2025, while the other batch includes the Council chairman, the Deputy, Secretary to the Council, Supervisors, Special Advisers, and Special Assistants
Those in the second batch have not been paid for December 2024 and January 2025 respectively
He also lamented about the ripple effect of the situation on the financial stability and the effectiveness of those affected, stressing that if it is not resolved amicably and quickly, it might dovetail to affecting the administrative and financial management of the Council.
He, therefore, requested a formal written explanation for the non-payment within 24 hours as well as the provision of any documented evidence related to the delay.
