The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has approved a new remuneration structure for local government officials, with council chairmen to receive ₦450,000 monthly and councillors ₦230,000.
The amendment Bill revising the state’s local government remuneration law was unanimously passed during plenary following Governor Francis Nwifuru’s request to review the salaries of public and political office holders at the grassroots level.
The Bill seeks to amend Schedules A and C of the Ebonyi State Local Government Councils and Development Centres Regulations and Remunerations for Public and Political Office Holders Law No. 004 of 2008, as amended in 2015.
Presenting the governor’s letter to the House on Wednesday, Moses Odunwa said the proposed amendment principally focused on the remuneration of public and political office holders at the local government and development centre levels.
According to him, Schedule A covers the remuneration of local government chairmen, vice chairmen, supervisors, secretaries and special assistants to chairmen, while Schedule C provides for legislative leaders, deputy leaders, councillors, development centre coordinators and management committee members.
Leading the debate on the Bill, the Leader of the House, Kingsley Ikoro, stated the Assembly had the constitutional responsibility to legislate on the structure and administration of local government councils.
Ikoro noted that the proposed amendment was specifically aimed at reviewing the remuneration schedules applicable to the affected officials.
Following the debate, the House dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to scrutinise and fine-tune the provisions of the Bill before its passage.
Under the revised Schedule A, local government chairmen will receive ₦450,000 monthly, while vice chairmen will receive ₦400,000. Supervisors are to receive ₦230,000, secretaries ₦240,000, and special assistants to chairmen ₦165,000 monthly.
Under Schedule C, legislative leaders will receive ₦300,000 monthly, deputy leaders ₦250,000, councillors ₦230,000, development centre coordinators ₦277,000, and management committee members ₦226,000.
The Speaker commended the Governor for what he described as his commitment to improving the welfare of the people and strengthening grassroots administration.
Odunwa also reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to working with the Executive to advance the administration’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.
Moving the motion for the passage of the Bill, Ikoro was seconded by the member representing Ikwo North State Constituency, Ifeanyi Nwakpu.
The Speaker subsequently subjected the motion to a voice vote, after which the Bill was unanimously passed by the lawmakers.
Odunwa directed the Clerk of the House, Edene Uche Blessing, to communicate the passage of the amendment Bill to Governor Nwifuru for the necessary action.
The plenary was thereafter adjourned to another legislative day.