Monarch, teachers, others assured timely payments of salaries in Taraba

The Advisory Committee on Local Government Autonomy has announced that traditional rulers in Taraba State will no longer face delays in receiving their monthly remuneration.

Aside from the monarchs, teachers as well as medical health workers, the committee led by the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Peter Abel Diah, said, it will extend the same gesture to teachers and medical health workers across the state.

Giving the assurance in a meeting held with union leaders and stakeholders, the committee emphasized that the payments would be consistent.

“We will surely work round the clock to make sure that the state’s traditional leaders as well as teachers and medical health workers are adequately compensated for their roles,” Diah said.

Diah noted that the roles of union leaders and key stakeholders are crucial in the autonomy, the idea of local government autonomy, as made known by them, goes beyond just changing administrative structures.

“You are the voices of the people, the champions of progress, and the guardians of our collective aspirations. We must come together in a spirit of unity and collaboration to fully understand the implications of this historic judgement and to chart a way forward that truly benefits the people of Taraba State,” Diah said.

“The idea of Local Government Autonomy goes beyond just changing administrative structures; it represents a significant transformation in how we govern, provide public services, and engage with our communities.”

Diah who is also of the view that the autonomy will have significant implications on fiscal empowerment, said, “local governments can generate revenue, manage budgets, and prioritise investments based on their communities’ unique needs.”

Other areas they believed the autonomy will have significant implications on are, service delivery, community engagement, accountability, and transparency, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), the State President of the union, Baji Wakili Damuga, said for an effective local government system to be achieved in the state, there must be an upward review of payments made to the Local Government Service Commission.

“Looking at current economic realities, an upward review of payments to the Local Government Service Commission should be considered. The present rate of 1% is grossly inadequate this review should take account of inflation, cost of living and other commitments of the commission, ensuring that the funds made available are adequately reviewed upwardly,” Damuga said.

A review of gratuity and pension templates, NULGE believed, has become necessary, stating that, “the current templates used for calculating gratuity and pension should be reviewed upward to reflect modern standards and best practices.

This, according to them, “will ensure that retired civil servant receive fair and adequate compensation for the service rendered during their active service years.”