The 18 local government councils in Edo State have received the sum of N1,777,639,808.24 from the federal allocation for the month of November 2016 and absolved the State Government of any interference with revenue accruing to local government areas.

Spokesman of the heads of local government administration, and head of Esan South East, Barr. Macaulay Ehonor, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the joint allocation committee meeting of local governments in the state held at the Government House, Benin City, on Wednesday.

According to Barr Ehonor, “We have just held the joint allocation committee meeting of local governments in Edo State presided over by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki. The total allocation received by local governments in Edo State for the month of November, shared now in the month of December, is N1,777,639,808.24 (One Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eight Naira, Twenty Four Kobo).

“Of this amount, the total mandatory expenditure came up to N1,181,401,139.16 (One Billion, One Hundred and Eighty One Million, Four Hundred and One Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty Nine Naira, Sixteen Kobo).”

Ehonor said the bulk of the mandatory expenditure went into the payment of teachers’ salaries while three local governments received negative allocation and would have to look elsewhere for funds to meet their financial obligations.

His words: “The bulk of this mandatory expenditure went in for teachers’ salaries, and in this month’s distribution, three local governments received negative allocation. That is to say, what accrued to these local governments cannot pay their teachers’ salaries.

“In other words, they are supposed to go out looking for money to augment, and these local governments are Oredo, Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local governments. These received negative allocation after the deduction from the mandatory expenditure.”

The spokesman continued: “Arising from this development, His Excellency has promised that the state will intervene to ensure that these local governments are able to meet some commitments to the staff of the local governments this month. The government has also promised to assist the local governments to carry out an assessment of our economic potentials of each and every local government. That is, to establish our base revenues and also our base monthly expenditure, to see how viable each and every local government would be in the months to come.

“The local governments are also to carry out physical verification of teachers in the respective primary schools as soon as schools resume. The National Union of Teachers, (NUT) has also been sensitised by the State Government towards this assignment. This administration will abhor absenteeism of its staff, both teachers and non-teaching staff.”

Barr Ehonor further said: “We are also advised to ensure that our marriage registries are functional, and records from these marriage registries are updated on a monthly basis so as to be able to discharge effectively our constitutional responsibilities as regards marriages, births and deaths.

“These were the highpoints of this month’s meeting, and we were all satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.

“It is also clear from this that the State Government in no way interferes with the revenue accruing to local governments.”

The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie Esq., and the Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, were also present at the joint allocation committee meeting of local government councils.

•Photo shows L-R; Engr. John Achia, HOLGA Ikpoba-Okha LGA; DCN (Barr) Macaulay Ehonor, HOLGA Esan South East, Ubiaja; and ESV Isimekhai Zeenat Odion (Mrs.); HOLGA Etsako Central LGA Fugar.

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