LG Tenure: Oyo Govt Bows To Supreme Court:To Pay Off Elected Officials |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The Oyo State Government, on Monday, said  it was on the same page with the Justices of the Supreme Court in its May 7, 2021 ruling, which ordered the payment of salaries and allowances of the dissolved Chairmen and Councillors of Local Government Councils in the State.

The Government in a statement in Ibadan said that as a believer in the rule of law, and as a Government with the utmost respect for the Supreme Court, it will comply with the ruling of the Apex court.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, declared that Government was, as far back as February, 2020, committed to pay-off the dissolved Chairmen and Councillors  when the negotiation team, pursuant to the out-of-court order of the Oyo State High Court, offered the Council Chairmen and Councillors the same condition which the Supreme Court just affirmed.

According to the statement, the Government of Oyo State will comply with the order of the Apex court once the details of the ruling are made available.

“We are on the same page with the Supreme Court of the land on the ruling which ordered the payment of salaries and allowances of the dissolved Local Governments.

“The Apex Court in its decision rejected the dissolution, affirmed that the tenure of the council Chairmen had lapsed, while also asking that the State pay salaries and allowances due to them till the end of their tenure.

“The Court also awarded a cost of N20 million and asked the Attorney General of Oyo State to file an affidavit of compliance latest August 7, 2021.

“A similar decision was given against the Government of Katsina State, with the same cost of N20 million awarded against it.

“As far as we are concerned, the Supreme Court, by that judgment, made a policy decision, being a policy Court. It was apparently sending a message to States in its attempt to protect elected Local Government Councils.

The affected Council Chairmen had scuttled efforts by the State Government to pay them off early this year by insisting that they must return to the Councils with all their aides.”

A few days ago, based on the Supreme Court judgement, a former Governor of the State, Alao Akala, had warned the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, not to hold any LGA elections.

Akala was of the PDP, the Governor’s party, before he defected to the APC.