BY ANDREW IKEHI
The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor has enjoined councillors across the 25 local Government Areas of the State to work in harmony with their various local government chairmen in order to bolster the needed socio-economic and infrastructural development in their respective areas.
Rt. Hon. Guwor gave the charge in Asaba, the State capital when the leadership of the various councils, under the aegis of “Delta State Local Government Council Legislative Leaders Forum” paid him a courtesy visit.
He said that the charge had become necessary as, according to him, harmonious relationships between the executive and the legislative arm of government at all level is critical in relation to growth and development.
While assuring the councillors of sustained collaboration and legislative support, the Speaker also enjoined them to always liaise with their various House of Assembly representatives for efficient and effective legislative synergy.
He promised to look into some of the challenges and requests by the councillors, particularly their agitation for upward review in their monthly salaries even as he noted that Delta, at present, ranks top in terms of salary structure of local government councillors.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Samuel Ekpemupolo Idukedoumene told the speaker that they were in his office on a familiarization visit.
Idukedoumene, who is the leader of the legislative arm, Warri South West local government appealed to the speaker to use his good offices to address some of the challenges confronting them, which according to him, included; Monthly payment of impress, car loan scheme for all councillors in the State, allocation of constituency projects, among others.
He particularly solicited enhanced salary structure and welfare packages for Councillors across the 25 local government councils in the state.
According to him, the appeal became necessary as the present salary structure of Councillors was inadequate to meet the demands of the office and current realities in Nigeria.
He maintained a fair salary review will not only provide financial stability for the Councillors but also enable them remain focused and committed to their duties.
Stressing that Councillors were at the forefront of grassroots governance, serving as the primary link between the government and the people, Ekpemupolo emphasized that with increasing demands of governance and rising costs of living, an adjustment that reflects their critical roles in local administration is urgently required.
