Akwa Ibom outgoing councillors ready for showdown

*How governor allegedly conspired to cease their N2.2m severance allowances

Joseph Atainyang

Outgone councillors in Akwa Ibom State are ready to storm the streets in protest the non-payment of their entitlements by government.

Their preparation seems resolute as they have affirmed their determination to speak out and demand ‘restitution’.

A few members of the Forum of Concerned Former Councillors communicated the decision to newsmen, after exposing the alleged conspiracy of Governor Udom Emmanuel in ceasing their severance allowances.

The councillors of the 6th legislative assembly, who served between December 4, 2017 and December 7, 2020, said their severance allowances accumulating into N2.2 million were never paid.

Speaking to newsmen in Uyo, a former councillor said government only paid them monthly salaries of N232,000 till March 2020.

He explained that state government deducted N50,000 from all councillors and N60,000 from all House Leaders, to cushion the effect of its expenditure on COVID-19 upsurge.

He lamented how the State Government withheld councillors’ statutory furniture allowances, imprests and constituency projects.

Another councillor, who gave his name as Uko Enang stated that the Chairman of Councillors Forum of the 6th Legislative Council, Barr Bassey Etim compromised their interests because government had paid him monthly salary of N1 million.

He insisted that with multi-millions of naira coming to the local authorities as monthly allocations, they expected the governor to pay their dues and not to use the Joint Account Committee to drain LG funds.

Also speaking with our reporter, an out gone councillor in Urue Offong Oruko LGA, Hon. Wisdom Onomo submitted that Governor Udom Emmanuel had frustrated their genuine intentions for optimum performance.

Saying the governor had starved them of their entitlements, Onomo who was Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation throughout his stay in office used the occasion to ask Akwa Ibom people to hold the governor accountable for their failure.

“I plead with Governor Emmanuel in the name of God. Please kindly release funds to the incoming local government. They do not deserve frustration like us. Know that it will be difficult for you to land well with a successor in 2023, if you continue like this”, he said.

An advocate of local government autonomy, Hon. Wisdom Onomo was popular for his frontal criticisms of the government of his party, even prior to expiration of his tenure of office.

While the former Chairman of Forum of Councillors, Barr Bassey Etim denied ever receiving N1 million monthly salary, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy said the state government has not abandoned the councillors of the 6th Legislative Council.

Ini Ememobong who said government was a continuum, stated that outgone councillors would be paid when government has enough funds.