Oyo state chapter of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, (ALGON) on Sunday rejected the pay off deal offered by Governor Seyi Makinde as out of court settlement option.
The chairmen and coucillors who were elected during the regime of immediate past governor,Abiola Ajimobi but sacked by Governor Seyi Makinde reiterated their resolve to complete their tenure as constitutionally guaranteed.
Makinde immediately after his inauguration on May 29,2019, announced the sacking of the council bosses
The sacked chairmen, under the aegis of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, had instituted several cases before and after the inauguration of Makinde as governor.
Pentimate week, the state government through its lawyer,Akin Onigbinde SAN was said to have considered an out-of-court settlement option.
But in a letter written by the trio of Yusuf Alli, SAN, Niyi Akintola, SAN, and Kunle Sobaloju and signed by Abass Alesinloye and Jesutoye Oluyinka, said ‘accepting financial compensation by way of calculated salary and severance allowance would amount to aiding the breach of the constitution and may also lead to violation of the anti-corruption laws by collecting salaries and allowances for futuristic job tenure yet to be lived out.”
“In the overall interest of the state, ALGON opined that government ‘may appoint’ additional two supervisory councillors and one liaison officer per LGAs and LCDAs to the existing and already inaugurated appointed ones, to make it a government of all inclusive.
“ALGON therefore resolved that the financial pay off proposed in the offers unacceptable to us hence we reiterate our resolve to complete our tenure as constitutionally guaranteed”.
The association , however commended Governor Makinde for recognizing and acknowledging the elected chairpersons and councilors by offering to pay them salaries and allowances.
“ALGON express appreciation to His Excellency, for recognizing and acknowledging our mandate as the democratically elected chairmen and councilors of the 33 local government councils and 35 LCDAs in Oyo state by offering to pay us salaries and allowances of due although this was coming from the 16 days after the initiative was moved on the 15th of February, 2020” .
The governor had similarly, after disbanding members of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, and the Judicial Service Commission, JSC, paid them off.
REMI FEYISIPO,Ibadan.
