Daily Independent Online.
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Monday,July 19, 2004.
Lull in LG activities
as workers decry FG’s stance on pay
By Victor Ebimomi
Reporter, Lagos
Contrary to the exciting mood that
prevailed at the local government secretariats in Lagos state two weeks ago
following a seemingly positive verdict from the Supreme Court verdict on the
controversial allocation issue, activities at the secretariats have lulled as
the end to the crisis seem not to be in sight.
The Supreme court presided over by the Chief
Justice of the federation, Justice Mohammadu Uwais had on Tuesday July 6
suggested that the Federal government and the Lags state should meet to find a
way of paying the state council workers and the teachers who were the major
victims of the face-off and report back to it, a directive that could not be
effected.
When Daily Independent visited some
secretariats after the pronouncement there was an air of happiness in the
councils as workers were seen discussing what they referred to as positive
verdict that would eventually be to the state’s favour.
But the joy seemed short-lived as the
outcome of the jaw-jaw, which was presented to the court last Monday, dazed the
workers. The Federal government was reported to have refused to pay the
teachers and the council workers until the determination of the suit filed by
the state challenging the withholding of the state allocations.
In repeat visits to some secretariats after
the federal government volte face decision, the atmosphere has changed
drastically with workers wearing forlorn looks while it was gathered the
council chairmen have been having crucial meetings with their officials
ostensibly to devise a survival strategies.
It was also discovered that there might be
a standing order that officials should keep pressmen at bay for now over the
issue.
At Ajeromi local government a top official
who said there was an embargo on granting interviews to the press however
informed that crucial meeting over the federal government decision was going on
and as such the Chairman would not be available for interview.
“ We are not allowed to talk to the
press on this issue. It is only the chairman that is competent to speak to the
press but now he is in meeting because of this latest development over
allocation”, the official said.
Similar responses were given at Yaba and
Ifelodun local governments while the mood remained the same.
But at Ikeja local government the
atmosphere was not only a reflection of the signs of the moment, the
information department would not even welcome the press in the secretariat over
the issue.
“See nobody will talk to you. No
council Chairman in Lagos state will even talk. And no local government union
chairman will also talk. If you want any information go Alausa to meet Tinubu
or you go to the workers union state secretariat”, a man who was
introduced as top official of the information department said.
