Some staff of the Local Government in Taraba state on Tuesday lauded governor Darius Ishaku for ensuring 100 percent regularisation of their salaries.
Some LG staff from Jalingo, Yorro, Zing, Ardo-Kola, Karim-Lamido, Lau, Kurmi, Ibi, Takum, Donga, Gassol and Wukari LG areas who spoke to selected newsmen in Jalingo advised those criticising and spreading false allegation that the willingly refused to pay salaries to desist.
“Some of us at the council level who understand the economy situation of Nigeria want to sincerely eulogied the state government for making effort to pay our salaries as at when due.
“We all knew that the year 2020 was a difficult year for all Nigerians, we knew of how the Covid-19 pandemic and the EndSARS protest crippled the entire economy.
“Even when things were bitting hard, the Governor was prompt with payment of Local Government and teachers salaries,” they said.
A local government worker in Gassol Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Alhaji Samai Mutum Biyu expressed worried over the gloomy outlook for states as federation account falls.
He added that the fall hinder some states of the federation from paying wages of their staff.
“This problem is not only perculier to Taraba, it is an all round syndrome that we all find ourselves and we must collectively bear it,” he noted.
He said the scale of the looming financial crisis was caused by the coronavirus pandemic and EndSARS protest that rocked the country in 2020 and is expected to continue in this year 2021.
According to him, the federal government, the states and the local government councils lost massive projected revenue that has affected their plans due to the negative effect of EndSARS and the global public health crisis (Covid19).
Also, a local government staff in lau, Ben Kuni Lau, urged all Tarabans to put their hands together and support the administration of governor Darius Ishaku and stop politicising issues of salary payment for selfish political reasons.
He said since assumption of office of Ishaku in 2015, he has worked quietly to ensure that the state is peaceful.
“Without sentiment, let us commend this man, go round the entire state and see the level of ongoing projects.
“What comes in from the federation account is just very little and stil he squeezed himself to develop the state,” he added.
