Chidi Nkwopara
13 October 2008
Owerri — A total of N5.9 billion, representing the severance allowance of past local government councillors, in Imo State inherited from its predecessor, has been cleared.
Addressing a press conference in Owerri, the Chairman of the consulting firm that engineered and completed the debt buy over, Mr. Dan Okehi, explained that his establishment was particularly irked by the long suffering of the beneficiaries.
"The bill was legitimately earned by the local council operators. The debt burden was too heavy for the state government to cough out with ease. This explained why we decided to buy it, pay the beneficiaries and ask for refund later", Okehi said.
He expressed sadness that "some of the benefitting councillors, chairmen and their deputies died even before these bills were paid and we felt it was not the best way to treat those who laboured for this state".
Answering a question, Mr. Okehi disclosed that the huge debt accrued from 1999-2002 and 2004-2007, adding that his company sat down with the affected councillors and agreed on the format to be used in the payment schedule.
"We have equally paid all the local council chairmen. The payment of the past supervisors will commence Wednesday this week. The amount paid to each person was determined by law, as it set out what severance and housing allowances are", Okehi said.
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