Ebonyi State (2017-2020 administration) Monday raised alarm over the non-payment of their severance allowance by Governor David Umahi-led administration in the State.
The Councillors pointed out that they had written "official letters up to seven times to the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development and all the 13 Local Government Areas in Ebonyi State over the continuous delay in payment of severance allowance to former councillors but all to no avail" appealed to Governor Umahi to make the payment available to them without further delay.
The group, which debunked the claim in some Government quarters "that Former Councilors (2017-2020) have all been paid severance allowance" argued that the claim "is not only untrue but also misleading."
In a Communique signed by Hon Nwugo Chimereze Celestine, the State Chairman, Hon Igwe Ejike Ucha, Secretary, Hon Okeh Paulinus Akachukwu, State P.R.O, Hon Onah Paul Onah, Ebonyi North Zone, Hon Ajah Joseph Ikechukwu, Ebonyi South Zone, and Hon Nwoba Amos, Ebonyi Central Zone, after its August Meeting in Abakaliki, the Forum of former Councillors explained that the delay in the payment of their allowances had caused them untold hardship.
According to them, "The Forum of Former Councilors of Ebonyi State (2017-2020 administration) arising from our meeting held on 29th August 2022 over the nonpayment of Severance Allowance to the Former Councilors, resolved as follows:
"That Former Councilors in Ebonyi State (2017-2020 administration) are being owed severance allowance since two years we completed our tenure.
"That the information being circulated in the state by the immediate past Local Government Executives that Former Councilors (2017-2020) have all been paid severance allowance is not only untrue but misleading.
"That this continuous delay in paying the severance allowance has thrown the Former Councilors into untold hardship as it was made to be paid at the expiration of our tenure as something to fall back on.
"That we are urging Ebonyi State Government to pay the Former Councilors the severance allowance without further delay because it is our constitutional right.
"That the Forum of Former Councilors in Ebonyi State is in total support of APC led Government in Ebonyi State and therefore pledged our unalloyed commitment to the policies and programs of the government."
Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi approved the payment of severance allowances to all past Chairmen, Vice chairmen and Councillors from 2015.
The Governor disclosed this Monday while performing the opening ceremony of a two-week training workshop for the present and immediate past Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Councillors and others at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.
The training workshop on Agriculture was organized by the State government and facilitated by the International Skills Acquisition Centre (ISAC), CSS Farm Ltd, Abuja.
Speaking, the Governor urged participants to take the training seriously to get the full benefit for their gains and that of the state in general.
Maintaining those politics is not a vocation, Governor Umahi stressed that one businessman built up in the state was worth more than 100 politicians.
