Local Government Councilors in Edo State are protesting in Benin City appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, and the Oba of Benin to Intervene over the non-payment of the Councilors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo state.
They are calling on Mr. President, the National Assembly, and the respected Monarch to prevail on the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to pay them their outstanding salaries and allowances.
The councillors made the appeal during a peaceful protest in Benin City saying their refusal to defect with the Governor to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the build up to the September 19 governorship election was the reason they were prevented from carrying out their responsibilities as elected Councilors.
Numbering about 90, the local government councilors drawn from the 18 local government areas of Edo state said the peaceful protest around major roads in Benin metropolis became necessary because their salaries and allowances have not been paid since May 2020.
The councillors, therefore, appealed to President Buhari, the National Assembly, and the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II, to prevail on Governor Obaseki to pay their salaries and allow them to represent their wards in the various council areas.
Responding to the claims by the protesting local government councilors, the Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Efe Stewart, said that Governor Obaseki’s administration is not owing any local government legislator salaries and allowances.
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The protesters also took their protest to the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo state chapter and the Police Command Headquarters in the state.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
