The precarious financial situation in the 25 Local Government Councils of Delta State has worsened with an alleged demand of N5 million from each of the councils for the organisation of a controversial seminar for the newly sworn-in Local Government Council.
Transition committee members, City People’s investigations have revealed. The purpose of the seminar which was made known to the Chairman at Asaba, the capital of the state during a meeting held recently is another ploy by some greedy elements in the State House of Assembly to further milk the councils dry.
It was learnt that such seminars have been organised in the past, with the Chairman of the councils getting N2 million each from the N5 million the councils are made to cough out.
It was gathered that after such controversial huge sums are paid, the councils will equally be compelled to pay the hotel and travelling allowances of members of the transition committees from their coffers to attend the seminar.
There is an average 20 members in each of the transition committees across the state. While a reasonable number of the councils in the state are owing their staff average of two months salaries on a result of empty treasury, the new transition committee chairman of Uvwie Local Government was reported to have borrowed to pay October 2012 salary and with increasing pressures by state government officials on regular basis regarding the running of councils, there are indications that the near zero activities in most of the councils will eventually be grounded to a halt.
Source: City People