The Plateau Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, says that the Gov. Caleb Mutfwang-led administration inherited N4.6 billion salary and pension arrears from the previous administration.
Mr Ephraims Usman, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Jos, at a ministerial press briefing organised by the Ministry for Information and Communication.
Usman said that the ministry made the discovery during a familiarisation tour of the 17 LGAs to inspect projects and ensure that they were utilising their monthly allocation efficiently.
The commissioner said that so far, N1.7 billion primary teachers’ arrears had been cleared.
He also said that N1.2billion out of the more than N1.6 billion arrears of local government council employees had been paid.
“Out of the over N1billion local government pension arrears inherited, only about N300 million is still outstanding.
”Efforts are however, being made to clear all the outstanding arrears of the LGA staff and their pensioners within the next few months.
“The ministry, in collaboration with the Association Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), purchased 35 Hilux vehicles for Operation Rainbow, to strengthen the security architecture at the grassroots level.
“The ministry also paid N200 million inherited outstanding allocation to Operation Rainbow.
“The ministry, along with the 17 LGAs management and their labour unions, signed an agreement for the payment of wage award of N12,000 each for three months to teachers, LGA workers, and pensioners,” he said.
Usman further said that the ministry conducted the selection and coronation of the new paramount ruler of the Ngas people (Ngolong Ngas) on first class status.
According to him, the selection of the new paramount ruler of Garkawa (Mou Youm of Garkawa) was done on second class status, adding that his coronation would soon take place.
He added that the ministry, in conjunction with the 17 LGAs, was working on the digitalisation of indigene forms and marriage certificates with link to the beneficiary’s National Identity Number (NIN).