From Abdullahi Adamu Gusau.
Zamfara state Commissioner for local government, Engineer Ahmed Garba Yandi has said that they are awaiting professional advice over the severance allowance payment of over N5billion demanded by the Forum of Former Local government Vice Chairmen and Councillors from the state government.
Speaking to the Invisible INSIDER in his office over the issue, the Commissioner acknowledged the receipt of the forum's formal request letters which was subsequently referred to the State Ministry of Justice for legal advice and guidance. He explained that the Ministry could not take further action on the issue due to the legal implications involved which must be clarified.Engineer Ahmed Garba Yandi in his opinion however wondered why members of the forum failed to demand payment of the allowance from the previous Governments they worked with. He noted that unlike civil servants’ gratuities and other benefits which are binding on successive Governments, payment of severance allowances of political office holders doesn’t have that status.
The Commissioner emphasized that the Ministry will patiently wait for the official response of the Ministry of Justice on the issue before taking further action.
Recall that the Forum of Former Local government Vice Chairmen and Councillors of Zamfara state had demanded and appealed to the state government to pay the sum of over N5billion severance allowances for its members whom it said were desperately in need of financial aid to maintain their families.
