Cross River Governor, Ayade Stops Salaries of Aides, LG Chairmen, Others Who Refused To Follow Him To APC
Political appointees, elected local government chairmen, councilors, and other political office holders in Cross River State are yet to receive their salaries and allowances for the month of May 2021.
According to the source, salary for the month of May 2021 were paid, but appointees, elected officials, and others were not.
The non-payment was reportedly due to their refusal to join Governor Ben Ayade in defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Findings revealed that Ayade had quietly asked the state accountant general’s office and the legislature to withhold future payments from elected officers who refused to defect just five weeks after his defection.
Barr Effiok Cobham, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) caretaker committee, condemned the APC-led government’s actions on Friday.
He expressed concern over the purported withholding of salary and allowances from some members of the House of Assembly and councillors for refusing to join the APC.
He described the situation as concerning because salaries and allowances are their legitimate earnings that have nothing to do with the party, and that such behavior is illegal and would be contested in court.
It is illegal to take away elected officials’ wages and benefits for refusing to join the APC with you. All rewards and entitlements owed to PDP legislators in the Assembly, as well as certain councillors, have been halted since they have remained loyal to their party.
“The Governor is not footing the bill. He’s even gathered the official cars that had been assigned to some of the legislators. Every day, councillors are threatened and harassed, instilling dread in them.
“Well, as a party, we would not fold our hands and allow our people to be humiliated simply because they declined to join APC because of Ayade. We intend to seek restitution in a competent court of law as soon as possible.”
Rt.Hon Fred Osim (Ikom I), Okpechi Gabreil (Obubra I), Nelson Ofem (Yakurr I), Elizabeth Ironbar (Akpabuyo), Efa Esua (Municipality), and Itam Abang are the legislators impacted ( Boki I).
According to the source, at the end of each legislative session, the Speaker dissolves all House Committees in accordance with House Rules.
“It’s probable that none of the seven legislators will be allowed to chair important committees in the future,” the person said.
When you are contacted, However, in a discussion, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt Hon Jones William Eteng, stated he was unaware that any members’ allowances had been taken, and that all wages due them had been paid to date.
Source: Daily Post
Cross River Governor, Ayade Stops Salaries of Aides, LG Chairmen, Others Who Refused To Follow Him To APC
