Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Elder Mark Esset, has assured members of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) of the 7th Assembly’s commitment to their welfare and concerns.
Elder Esset gave the assurance on Monday when the Executive Council members of the Union in the State made with his Committee at the Assembly Complex, Uyo.
While commending the leadership of the Union in the state on its diplomatic approach to issues, the Assemblyman expressed his Committee’s desire and readiness to ensure all grey areas between government and Union are resolved amicably.
On the issue of the alleged non-payment of salaries to over 723 members of the Union, the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs appealed to them to be more patience, maintaining that “justice will be done as soon as possible. Consultation is ongoing with the stakeholders including the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Accountant General.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and State President of the Union, Comrade Anestina Iweh, solicited the House Committee’s intervention “on the removal of payment voucher and non payments of salaries to 723 members of NULGE,” adding that the issue has caused untold hardship on the affected members.
“Three junior Health Staff, each employed in the 31 Local Government Areas have since been dropped. Mr. Chairman, in 2014 over 300 of our members were dropped without payment and entitlements. At the instance of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, 125 of the affected members were considered for payment as at February and March 2019. We pray this Committee to intervene and proffer solution to the unending plights of our members,” the State NULGE President said.
Members of the NULGE delegation also included Comrade Adebayo Akeem (Secretary), Comrade Idongesit Udo (Auditor), Comrade George Ekong (Trustee) and Comrade Uduak Udonta (Women Leader).
