Kwara: Ex-Councillors seek Abdularzaq’s intervention over unpaid entitlements

By Ola Taiwo

Former councillors in the 16 local government areas of Kwara State  whose tenure ended in 2016 have appealed to the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to intervene in the payment of their severance allowances and other entitlements yet unpaid 10 year after they have left office.

The former lawmakers who served between 2013 and 2016 said many of their members were facing financial and health challenges while still awaiting the entitlements.

They spoke under the aegis of the Forum of Ex-Councillors, Kwara State Chapter,

The forum, in astatement signed by otsChairman, Oloyede Olabisi Emmanuel, and Secretary, Ganiyu Lawal said it had made several efforts to secure payment of the entitlements without success and appealed for the intervention of the governor.

The former lawmakers who at present members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said they had remained patient and loyal to the party despite the prolonged delay in settling their entitlements.

The former councillors said while serving at the grassroots level between 2013 and 2016, they contributed to democratic governance and development in their respective local government areas.

They lamented that since the expiration of their tenure, their severance allowances and other outstanding entitlements had remained unpaid despite several appeals, written representations and peaceful engagements with the relevant authorities.

The former lawamakers said they had continued to support in the APC and participate in party activities despite their unresolved grievances and urged the governor to look into their matter 

“Your Excellency, we have been patient, loyal and understanding with this administration for over seven years, believing in your mantra of ‘Iseya’ and your commitment to justice and the welfare of all Kwarans,” the statement reads.

The former government functionaries expressed sadness that years of waiting, assurances and promises had yet to produce concrete action towards settling the outstanding payments.

They said that some of their members had died, while others were battling illnesses and struggling with popoverty and described the situation as distressing for people who had previously served the state in elected public offices.

The forum urged Abdulrazaq to treat the matter as urgent and direct the immediate payment of the outstanding entitlements. It also appealed to the state government to give their case the same consideration it said had been extended to former political officeholders in other states and other categories of political appointees.

While dislcosing that opposition parties had been approaching its members with offers of political realignment, the forum claimed the members resisted such overtures in the hope that the governor would address their grievances.

“Other political parties who are aware of our plights are seriously wooing us, and we are seriously resisting the temptation because this is our home and we have a listening leader who cares for his followers,” the forum stated.

The former councilors explained that their appeal was not intended to undermine the APC-led administration but to draw attention to a longstanding issue requiring the governor’s personal intervention.

They expressed hope that Abdulrazaq would respond positively to the appeal and demonstrate his administration’s commitment to fairness, justice and the welfare of those who had served the state.

The former councilors reiterated their loyalty to the APC, urging the governor to resolve the outstanding payments to prevent the prolonged delay from further eroding their confidence in the party.