Kogi State Auditor General Slants Local Government Staff for Salary Delays

The Auditor General for Local Governments in Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has placed the blame for the delay in payment of salaries at the local government areas in the state on the questionable activities of certain staff in the councils.

The auditor said the refusal of the local government staff to furnish his office with certain documents is the key reason for the delay in effecting the three months back pay for the civil servants at that level.

He said this while speaking about the issues militating against the state's civil service restructuring in the state's capital, Lokoja, on Monday evening.

"We, the citizens, are the real problem of this state, not the leaders," Mr. Ododo said. "It took them a long time to release to us the information we requested for in the approved format. As we speak, some are yet to send us what we need to prepare their salaries.

"Two weeks ago, we asked all the staff at the Local Government Education Authority to send us the list of their staff that have work schedules. Up until this moment, none have complied. So, how do we pay them?"

The Auditor added that cleared teachers at local government level have been paid, in addition to the 14 local council staff. 

The LGAs paid include Dekina, Okene, Yagba East, Yagba West, Ankpa, Adavi, Ofu, Omala, Lokoja, Ijumu, Mopa Amuro, Idah, Ajaokuta, and Okehi. 

He reinstated that 48 out of 55 Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state have also been paid, while 4280 pensioners would be getting their money latest this Tuesday, June 28th.