The Taraba State Government, through the Bureau for Local Government, Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs, on Tuesday commenced the payment of five months’ outstanding salary arrears owed to local government workers.
The Permanent Secretary in the bureau, Mr Godfrey Dame, disclosed this during the commencement of the exercise in Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area.
Dame said the payment followed Governor Agbu Kefas’ decision to clear the five months’ salary arrears owed to local government workers across the state’s 16 local government areas since 2015.
He explained that beneficiaries would initially receive one month’s salary arrears each, while the remaining arrears would be paid gradually in subsequent months.
The permanent secretary added that the payment also covered local government primary school teachers and retirees.
He urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by supporting the Kefas administration and contributing to its success.
“Today’s exercise is in compliance with Governor Agbu Kefas’ directive to clear the five months’ outstanding salary arrears owed to local government staff since 2015. The payment covers primary school teachers and retired staff across the 16 local government areas of Taraba State.
“At the moment, beneficiaries will receive one month of the arrears each, while the remaining payments will be processed gradually on a monthly basis,” Dame explained.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Taraba State chapter, Comrade Bajison Wakili Damuga, commended Governor Kefas for approving the payment of the five months’ salary arrears owed to local government workers in the state.
Damuga described the approval as a demonstration of compassionate leadership and a clear indication of the governor’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and strengthening grassroots administration.
He said the decision would bring relief to local government employees affected by the outstanding arrears, adding that the gesture reflected the government’s responsiveness to the concerns of civil servants.
The NULGE president urged local government workers across the state to reciprocate the gesture through dedication, discipline, punctuality and improved service delivery in their respective places of work.
He further called on political leaders, traditional institutions and residents of Taraba State to continue promoting peace, unity and mutual understanding for the overall progress of the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Usman Buba described the development as a welcome relief that would help address some of their financial challenges.
He thanked the governor for the gesture and pledged to mobilise support for his re-election bid in 2027.
Earlier, the Ardo-Kola Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Umar Badaware, commended Governor Kefas for what he described as a labour-friendly decision and urged local government workers to support the governor’s re-election bid in 2027.