Some Katsina LGs can’t pay salaries, Masari laments

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, yesterday, lamented that some local councils in the state cannot afford staff salaries due to paucity of funds.

Speaking during the swearing-in of 33 newly-elected council chairmen in the state by the Chief Judge, Justice Musa Abubakar, the governor said most of the affected councils kept over-bloated workforce, making it difficult for the little income to cover salaries.

Masari, who called on the elected executive officials to be prudent and embrace an open-door policy, also warned them over the financial situation in majority of the councils.

His words: “Let me warn you of what to expect in some of the councils; some councils cannot pay staff salaries due to the financial situation and large number of staff.

“You must look for innovative ways of increasing the internally generated revenue (IGR) to improve the financial situation of your council. You must also be open to your people. May God give you the wisdom to run your councils in line with the guidelines and regulations.”

While congratulating them for being first set of elected executive officials since the All Progressives Congress (APC) took power in the state, the governor insisted that the April 11 council election that brought them in was hitch-free.

He added that the 12 political parties that participated in the election were given equal opportunity, even as he lauded the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) for a successful exercise.

In Monday’s election, APC won 31 of the 34 local council seats in Katsina.

The council executive officials, who were elected on the platform of the ruling APC, are expected to swear in candidates that won the councillorship seats in their respective council areas.