Unpaid entitlements: Kaduna councilor’s forum threaten strike action

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna state Councilor’s Forum has issued a 7 day ultimatum to the Mulkatar Rammallan Yero led administration to pay their outstanding entitlements or face a massive protest.

Speaking to newsmen after a congress of the forum, the immediate past Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Danyaro said the state government owed the councilors their severance gratuities and other entitlements that were supposed to be paid at the inception of their tenure, but unfortunately, the state government failed to do so.

He added that only nine local government areas of Igabi, Ikara, Kagarko, Zango Kataf, Soba, Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Kachia that have paid part of the entitlements to Councilors in their local government areas.

He stated further that their entitlements is locked in the State Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, which is under the state government, according to him, the state government is keeping their entitlements for whatever reason he cannot explain.

“We are giving the state government 7-Day ultimatum to pay us our entitlements or we will embark on peaceful protest to press for our rights.

“This is not politics, the Forum is made up of members from all the political parties, with majority of our members from the PDP, so you can see that this is not politics, but a genuine demand for the right thing to be done and pay up our entitlements to save us from embarrassment.

He described as unfortunate that as councilors they have made efforts for the past two years seeking audience with the governor, but was not granted.

Danyaro, however stated that he is a bonafide member of the PDP, but this pathetic situation is beyond party affiliation and reiterated that he has no grouse with the PDP and would not allow anybody talk down his party.