Plateau LG pledges to settle N141m salary, pension arrears owed staff

By Ron-well Jacob, Jos
Mr. Danat Lawrence, Chairman, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State says he has earmarked the sum of N141 million for the settlement of salary liabilities of staff and pensioners from Feb 2018 to June 2020.
The LG boss made the pronouncement on Thursday during a chat with the journalists in Mangu.
Danat explained that the N141m liabilities, which would be paid next week, include N133m pending salaries of Teachers and Health workers (Nurses and Midwives) and N18m pension.
He said that the authority has already discussed with leadership of the different workers unions in the area and reached an agreement with them on modalities for payment.
The chairman pointed out that the decision was sequel to an agreement reached with a contractor that garnisheed the Local Government salary account with Zenith Bank Plc.
“The agreement followed an out of court settlement we recently had with the contractor, ” he said.
“Frantic effort was made by the Council leadership through various prominent personalities and stakeholders from the area before the matter was finally resolved with the contractor,” he stated.
He said that the bank (Zenith) was ready to release the garnisheed February, 2018 statutory allocation from the federation account belonging to the Council for onward payment of the salary arrears before the end of next week..
Reacting, the council branch Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Danjuma Dafwat, confirmed the agreement reached for the payment of the liabilities.
Dafwat discribed the authorities willingness to settle the outstanding liabilities as a “cheery” and “welcome development” to the council workers.