From Kefas H Dogonyaro
The Zamfara state Forum of Former Local Government Vice chairmen and Councillors has pleaded with Governor Dauda Lawal to save their souls and settle their outstanding severance entitlements to the tune of over N5billion.
Some of the former leaders of the forum, Aminu Garba Kanoma, Musa Mohammed, Suleiman Mohammed , Musa Isa and Abubakar Labbo who spoke to the Invisible INSIDER appealed to Gov Dauda Lawal to compassionately look into their plight as over 500 households with dependants including heirs of some deceased Councillors who are represented by their families are living in abject poverty.
They stated that the state government is owing about 500 members of the forum the sum of over N5billion severance entitlements which accumulated from 2011 to 2023. They explained that the first batch of the councillors whose tenure of office expired in 2011 but were paid part payment of their entitlements by the ministry of local government are yet to be paid their outstanding entitlements balance of over 11 years.
However the second batch consisting of vice chairmen and councillors whose tenure terminated in 2015 and their outstanding entitlements grossly accumulated over a period of eight years.
The grassroots politicians expressed dismay over how they are rendered vulnerable and exposed to untold hardship by the failure of previous administrations to pay them as and when due at the time they left office.
They lamented that seventeen of their colleagues have answered the call of Almighty Allah apparently due to distress and penury that overwhelmed them. They recalled a sad incident of one Honourable Haruna Umar Sauna, Talata Mafara who on account of his inability to incur the marriage expenditure of his daughter collapsed and died instantly.
They revealed that the forum had appropriately contacted relevant government agencies to ensure justice and fairness but the effort proved abortive despite ascertaining the genuineness of their claim. They therefore appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal’s government through its humane, considerate, justice, fairness and magnanimity to come to their aid, as according to them, the kind gesture would endear the Governor and his government to the hearts of the people at the grassroots
The forum optimistically hoped their outstanding entitlements will be included in the gratuities the Governor promised to offset this month. They maintained that the gesture will facilitate their chances of building their lives to effectively cope with socio-economic challenges facing them.
MUHAMMAD MUAZU CHAIRMAN GUMMI LGA ZAMFARA STATE COUNCILLORS FORUM 2004 TO 2015 THOSE DEULLY RETURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT.
AMINU GARBA KANOMA VICE CHAIRMAN ZAMFARA STATE VICE CHAIRMEN FORUM 2016 to 2023.
HON. MUSA ISAH T/WARA WARD GUSAU CHAIRMAN EX-COUNCILLORS 2008-2011.
ABABUBAKAR LABBO SAMAWA WARD BUNGUDU LGA CHAIRMAN 2012-2015.
HON. ALIYU ALHASSAN KUNCHIN KALGO TSAFE LGA CHAIRMAN EX-COUNCILLORS FORUM 2015 TO 2023.
