The Nasarawa State House of Assembly ad hoc committee investigating non-payment of June salary to local government workers and unnecessary deductions of local council funds in the state has called for constructive contributions from the general public.
Mohammed Alkali (APC-Lafia North), the Chairman of the committee, made the appeal at the commencement of sitting on Wednesday in Lafia.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that those in attendance during the sitting included the State Accountant General, Zakka Yakubu; Special Adviser to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, John Mamman; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bala Sani.
Alkali said the investigation was not to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that right things were done for the benefit of the local government staff, people at the grassroots and for the overall development of the state.
He noted that the state was a civil service state, hence the need to ensure that salaries of workers were paid as at when due.
He said: “Yesterday, July 16, matter of urgent public importance was raised over non-payment of June salary to local government staff and other unnecessary deduction of local government funds in the state.
“And the matter touches the lives of every person in Nasarawa State.
“Local government staff June salary has not been paid.
“We want to know why they have not been paid, among other issues.
“I don’t want anybody to see the investigation as a witch-hunt but to correct any abnormality if discovered in the interest of our people.”
The chairman further assured the people of the state of the assembly’s readiness to pass resolutions that would have direct bearing on their lives.
NAN recalls that the legislature on July 16 set up a six-man committee to investigate the finances of the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs to probe the development.
The House gave the committee two weeks to submit its findings.
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