The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has confirmed the release of the previously withheld local government allocations.
Speaking at a meeting with local government administrators in Port Harcourt, Ibas assured that necessary measures would be taken to ensure timely payment of workers’ salaries. Acknowledging the challenges faced by government employees, he stated, “I feel the pain of the workers.”
Emphasizing financial accountability, the administrator pledged to closely monitor the management of public funds to ensure transparency and proper utilization.
On security matters, he called for stronger collaboration between traditional rulers and security agencies, urging local government leaders to take an active role in maintaining peace and order in their respective areas.
“You must take the lead in ensuring security within your domains,” he instructed.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Clifford Paul, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for appointing Ibas as the Sole Administrator.
Paul, who also serves as the Administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, credited Ibas’s competence for the decision and urged him to prioritize workers’ welfare, noting that local government employees were owed two months’ salaries.