Rivers State: Wike with-holds September allocation of LG Councils

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, alleged that a highly placed Rivers State Local Government Service Commission source has revealed that embattled governor Nyesom Wike, whose election was recently annulled by the tribunal, has since with held and keeping the federal allocations of the 23 Local Governments in Rivers State for the month of September against the relevant laws of the nation which recognises them as a separate and independent tier of government.

According to findings by the APC which were confirmed by several sources, the outgoing governor with-held and converted the September allocations of the Councils to enable him use the money to pursue his matter at the Appeal and Supreme Courts. This accounts for why Council workers in Rivers State have not been paid their September salaries to date.

The APC recalled that a few days ago, Wike’s man Friday and foremost promoter, OCJ Okocha [SAN], asked the embattled governor to hire the best lawyers in the land to pursue the annulment of his so-called election at the Appeal Court and possibly the Supreme Court.

The APC also noted that some Council workers are being owed 3 months and 2 months salaries because the outgoing governor pounced on and converted various Council allocations in the past , adding that several Council workers in the State have been unable to pay their children and wards schools fees since schools resumed in September and therefore have their children and wards sent out of school. A particular Council staff from Opobo/Nkoro narrated his sad story of how he now begs from friends to feed his family.

The APC called on Governor Nyesom Wike to immediately and unconditionally release the allocations of the Local Governments in Rivers State as such an act is unlawful and criminal.

“Nyesom Wike must look up to the heavens and realise that the God of justice and of the poor exists” APC averred.