ALGON closes FCT councils, lecturer seeks salary reduction for political appointees

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has temporarily shut down operations of the area council secretariats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until further notice.

It, however, excluded staff members of the Department of Health Services and Senior Officers from staying away from their duties and offices, as they would always be needed to carry out regular checks to keep the secretariat running.

Chairmen of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abubakar Candido, Abaji Council Area, Abdulsalam Ajiya, Gwagwalada Council Area, Mustapha Danze, Bwari Council Area, John Gabaya, Kuje Council Area, Abdullahi Sabo and their Kwali Council Counterpart, Danladi Chiye, made the joint decision.

Briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Danze, who is also Chairman of ALGON, FCT Chapter, said the town hall clinics in the council areas were opened to members of the public for use in the event of any case of the disease.

“The outcome of our meeting is that in synergy with the FCT administration, we have agreed to close down official duties in all the six area councils of the territory with the aim of curtailing the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic until further notice,” he said.

Meanwhile, a lecturer with the Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, Dr. Nurideen Mohammed, has urged governments to slash the salaries of all political office holders beginning from governors to reduce the cost of governance.

He stated this yesterday at a town hall meeting organised by the state government on the impact of Coronavirus on global economic realities and its effect on Kebbi State, adding that capital projects should be suspended until the economy improves.

Mohammed also called for a review of the year’s budget, and other expenditures in order to meet the current challenges.

Speaking, Emir of Argungu, Ismaila Muhammad Mera, said in a situation where revenues accruing to government fall by a sharp margin, hard decisions were inevitable, even if it means suspending payment of civil servants salaries until the economy improves.