The sacked local government chairmen in Oyo state under the auspices of Association of Local government of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo state, Sunday turned down Governor Seyi Makinde’s offer to pay them off.
ALGON in a letter written to the counsel to the Oyo state government, Dr Akin Onigbinde (SAN) by ALGON through its lawyer, Barr Kunle Sobaloju, condemned the suggestion by Makinde to pay them off, describing the idea as antithetical to the war against corruption.
The sacked chairmen pointed out that the suggestion “is a disservice to the people of their local government and Oyo state to collect financial compensation in lieu of their constitutionally guaranteed tenure.”
“We refer to your letter dated 20th February, 2020 and have brought the contents of the said letter to the notice of our client which they have considered, and by this letter, we wish to communicate their response to you.
“We have our clients’ instruction to express their appreciation to His Excellency for recognising and acknowledging our clients’ mandate as the democratically elected chairmen and councilors of the 33 local government councils and 35 LCDAs in Oyo state by offering to pay them their salaries and allowances due,” it added.
“We have our clients’ instruction to inform you that the financial pay off proposed is unacceptable to them. We appreciate your efforts towards the amicable settlement of issues between the parties and convey our professional regards of the highest esteem,” the chairmen’s counsel stated.
