The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has approved revised monthly remuneration for political and public office holders at the local government and development centre levels across the state.
The amendment affects Schedules A and C of Law No. 004 of 2008, as amended in 2015, known as the Ebonyi State Local Government Councils and Development Centres Regulations and Remunerations for Public and Political Office Holders.
The Bill was considered and passed during Wednesday’s plenary session at the Legislative Complex along Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Theophilus Ifeanyi Igwe, the amendment followed a letter from Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru requesting a review of the remuneration schedules applicable to various categories of local government and development centre officials.
Presenting the Governor’s letter to the House, Speaker Odunwa explained that Schedule A covers local government chairmen, vice chairmen, supervisors, secretaries and special assistants to chairmen, while Schedule C covers legislative leaders, deputy leaders, councillors, development centre coordinators and management committee members.
Leading the debate on the Bill, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, cited Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as the constitutional basis for the Assembly’s legislative responsibility over the structure and administration of local government councils.
The House subsequently dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to scrutinise and fine-tune the provisions of the Bill before returning to plenary.
Under the revised Schedule A, the Assembly approved the following monthly remuneration:
– Local Government Chairman — ₦450,000
– Vice Chairman — ₦400,000
– Supervisor — ₦230,000
– Secretary — ₦240,000
– Special Assistant to Chairman — ₦165,000
Under Schedule C, the new monthly remuneration was approved as follows:
– Legislative Leader — ₦300,000
– Deputy Leader — ₦250,000- Councillor — ₦230,000
– Development Centre Coordinator — ₦277,000
– Management Committee Member — ₦226,000
The Speaker commended Governor Nwifuru for what he described as his continued commitment to initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of public officials and strengthening grassroots administration.
Odunwa also reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to working with the Executive Arm of Government towards advancing the administration’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.
The Bill was subsequently put to a voice vote by the Speaker and passed unanimously. The Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, moved the motion for its passage, which was seconded by the Member representing Ikwo North State Constituency, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu.
Following the passage, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Edene Uche Blessing, to formally communicate the Assembly’s decision to Governor Nwifuru.
The plenary was thereafter adjourned to another legislative day.
