You Are Still Owing Us N6bn — Ex-Chairmen Tell Makinde
Former local government chairmen in Oyo State claim that the state administration, led by Engineer Seyi Makinde, owes them N6 billion.
This information was revealed by the former local government leaders in a communiqué made accessible to DAILY POST on Thursday.
Governor Seyi Makinde terminated the past local government chairmen and councilors in 2019, according to our source.
The former council members were elected in 2018 during Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.
After months of legal wrangling, the Supreme Court determined that the governor lacks the authority to dismiss elected council members.
The state government was subsequently ordered to reimburse the fired officials’ salaries and other benefits, according to the court.
According to DAILY POST, the state government has compensated the former council officials a total of one billion naira.
Former council officials, on the other hand, claim that the state owes them N6 billion.
The former council officials acknowledged receipt of the N1 billion from the state government in a statement signed by Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshiloye.
They argued, however, that they were dissatisfied with the N1b.
They said they were due N7 billion instead of N1 billion.
Abass-Aleshinloye said, “We, the former democratically elected Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, wish to acknowledge the payment of One Billion Naira (N1 bn) by Oyo State Government, the Judgement Debtors in Suit No. SC/CV/556/ 2020.
“The part payment of One billion Naira by Gov. Seyi Makinde led Oyo State Government, is sequel to the Supreme Court Judgment delivered on 7th May,2021, which inter alia, ordered that Gov. Makinde should pay all salaries and allowances of all the elected Chairmen and Councilors of the 33 Local Government Councils and 35 Local Government Development Areas, who were parties / appellants to the suit.
“After series of rigmarole, deliberate delay of payment by Oyo State Government, the representatives of elected Chairmen and Councilors under the auspices of ALGON and our brilliant and resilient lawyers, eventually met with the representatives of Oyo State Government. At the end, it was unanimously agreed after careful calculations that the total judgment payment is N7. 056 billion Naira after deductions of PAYE.
“So, we are surprised that in the public statement issued by Oyo State Government, the general public was misinformed that it had paid One Billion Naira out of a total sum of Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy Four Million, Eight Hundred and Eight Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Five Naira, Sixty Kobo. (N4, 874, 889, 465 : 60).
“For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate that the total judgment payment as jointly calculated and agreed with the state government is Seven Billion, Fifty Six Million Naira Only (N7. 056 billion).
“We also reiterate that the One Billion Naira paid by the Oyo State Government is just about 14% of the amount Supreme Court directed the Oyo State Government to pay us and we consider this to be a flagrant disobedience of the order of the Supreme Court as the court did not at anytime order that the judgment sum be paid in installments”.
