Rivers’ Withheld Allocations Released, Says Sole Administrator

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has confirmed that the previously withheld local government allocations have been released. He made this known during a meeting with heads of local government administrations in Port Harcourt.

Ibas gave assurances that measures are being put in place to ensure the prompt payment of salaries, acknowledging the hardship faced by government workers. “I feel the pain of the workers,” he said, expressing his commitment to resolving salary delays.

He also emphasised the importance of financial transparency and accountability in managing public resources, stating that he would closely monitor the use of public funds across the local government areas.

On the issue of security, the administrator called for active collaboration between traditional rulers and security agencies. He urged local government heads to take initiative in maintaining peace and order in their respective areas.

In response, Clifford Paul, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, praised the Federal Government for appointing Ibas. He attributed the move to Ibas’ competence and urged him to prioritise the welfare of workers, noting that local government employees are currently owed two months’ salaries.