By Abiola Olawale
The Edo State governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo has vowed to clear all outstanding salaries owed to the local government workers in the state if elected into power as the next governor of Edo State in the forthcoming September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election.
Okpebholo who is also the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District under the platform of the APC in the Senate declared that he would pay all the outstanding salaries within his first 100 days in office.
According to him, it is improper and worrisome that the current administration is purportedly owing local government workers their salaries.
This was contained in a statement issued by Kassim Afegbua, Director of Media for the APC Governorship Election Campaign Council on Thursday.
Okpebholo said: “Every local government in Edo is being owed salaries ranging from two, three, four and six months, respectively, at a time the local government allocation has improved.
“Instead of releasing the funds and allocations that are due to the local governments, chairmen are often compelled to visit the Sterling Bank office in Benin, where they are made to sign that they have received their allocations, whereas, nothing has touched their hands.
“There are no capital projects in the local governments, and the worst of it is that salaries are still being owed.
“I assure the local governments that all allocations due to them will be handed over to them for proper growth and development of the rural areas.
“A vote for Senator Okpebholo is a vote for progress, development and robust collaboration between the state government and the local governments.”
The New Diplomat reports that Okpebholo is battling with Dr Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Barrister Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), among other candidates for the governorship seat of Edo State. The epic battle for the coveted crown is slated for this Saturday as all eligible voters in Edo state go to the polls to cast their vote.
