Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, July 07, 2004.
Uwais urges FG, Lagos to settle on council salaries
By Rotimi Fadeyi (Abuja)
and Lekan Sanni (Lagos)
Chief
Justice Muhammadu Uwais suggested on Tuesday that the Federal Government and
the Lagos State Government should meet to settle the payment of salaries to
teachers and council workers who have not been paid as a result of Abuja
withholding funds to some councils
But
the suggestion was not a ruling.
Lagos
State had told the Supreme Court that teachers and council employees are
suffering for not having been paid their salaries because of the decision of
the Federal Government to withhold allocation to newly created councils.
At
the resumed hearing on Tuesday of the case filed by the state against Abuja
over the non-release of the funds, its lead counsel Rotimi Williams (SAN), who
explained that the state is not demanding additional money for the new councils,
said families and dependants of the teachers and council staff are affected by
the Federal Government’s action.
Abuja
has withheld council allocation due to Lagos and four other states which
created additional councils. Lagos State carved out 37 new ones, increasing the
total number of its councils from 20 to 57.
Williams
demanded payment of the money at the Supreme Court on Tuesday. He told the
justices: “My lords, let the Federal Government give us what they have
been giving us before, we are not asking for a kobo more, the state government
pays the teachers through the allocation to the local governments, they are now
suffering because salaries are not paid, their families and dependants too are
suffering.
“We
have concern for the employees and teachers that are not paid, we don’t
know whether the Federal Government can reach an agreement that the money be
paid to even the teachers and staff of the 20 local government areas”.
Chief
Justice Muhammadu Uwais, leading six others, suggested that the Federal
Government and state should meet to settle the matter concerning payment of the
salaries.
But
counsel to the Federal Government Afe Babalola (SAN) did not give any
undertaking that the money would be paid. He said he would consult with his
client and report back to the court on the decision taken.
He
added that even if the money were to be paid, it would be for only the 20
councils recognised by the Constitution.
Earlier,
the court had granted a motion brought by Lagos State to amend claim on its
originating summons to reflect that the matter before the court borders on
allocation to councils as it affects Section 162 (5) of the Constitution.
