Taraba: Former Councilors Urge Gov. Kefas to Clear 26 years accrued benefits

By Saidu Adamu, Jalingo

The Association of Former Elected Councilors in Taraba State has called on the State Governor Agbu Kefas to clear their severance allowances that has not been paid for over 26 years.

Chairman of the association Alhaji Bala Maina made the appeal at a Press conference in Jalingo on Friday.

He regretted that despite the promises the governor made to them before assuming office and numerous engagements with key stakeholders, the government has failed to attend to their plight, leading to the death of many of their colleagues.

He however commended the State Governor for his efforts in settling pensions and gratuities of both State and Local government workers and urged him to also consider former elected councillors as many of them are facing terrible hardship.

“The leadership of the Association of Former Elected Councilors (AFEC) on behalf of all former local government political office holders in Taraba State, called this press conference to draw the attention of the people of Taraba State, Nigeria and people of conscience all over the world to the misfortune brought upon us by the successive Government of Taraba State.

“Those affected are former, supervisory Councillors, Special Advisers, Secretaries to the Local Government Councils, Elected Councillors of Local Government Legislative Councils and Vice Chairmen in Taraba State.

“Recall that some of the remunerations of our offices were entitlements to furniture and severance gratuity allowances.

“While in office and upon our disengagement from the various Local Government Councils from 1999 till date, we were unable to pay ourselves these entitlements because subventions to the Local Governments from the Federation Account were under the control of the Executive Governor who applied the money for purposes other than the welfare of the Political Office Holders of the Local Government.

“For this reason, the state government is owing different sets their entitlements in variation.

“Therefore, after the end of every tenure, we do make presentations and appeals to top Government Functionaries in the State for the payment of our entitlements. In recent times, the Functionaries we met, includes but not limited to the following: The Permanent Secretary, Bureau For Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs, The Chairman Taraba State House Of Assembly Committee on Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs, The Attorney General And Commissioner for Justice of the State, The Secretary to the Government of Taraba State, The DG Campaign Organization For Agbu Kefas 2027, but all to no avail.

“Thus, in other for us not to resort to self-help, we instituted actions before the National Industrial Court in Abuja and Yola Judicial Divisions for the payment of our entitlements.

We also wish to recall that prior to the 2023 general elections, our Association met with the incumbent Governor of Taraba State who was then the gubernatorial candidate of PDP at Camp View Event Center where he promised to pay our entitlements in his first year in office. Not only that, he also promised to interface with us at least once annually.

“In fact, we were thrilled when he made a mellifluous statement in his speech, that there will be no more USE AND DUMP AND MONKEY DEY WORK BABOON DEY CHOP scenario.

“However, we wish to draw the attention of His Excellency to the fact that none of these promises has been fulfilled.

Instead, the governor still sends state lawyers to engage us in the court, rather than paying our accrued entitlements.

The former Councilors further explained that they were appealing to the conscience and goodwill of the Governor, first as a human being and secondly, as the leader of their dear state, to come to their aid and pay them their accrued entitlements.

“Sir, it may interest you to know that our members are seriously passing through hell as a result of the nonpayment of our benefits.

“In fact, some have become critically ill and others are even dead. May the souls of the departed rest in peace!

“So, we plead with you Your Excellency, to put yourself in our shoes and feel our pains. Life after public office has always been difficult and tough which Your Excellency is aware, having been out of office yourself.