By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has approved a new monthly remuneration of ₦450,000 for Local Government Area chairmen in the state.
The approval followed the passage of a Bill amending the remuneration schedules under the Ebonyi State Local Government Councils and Development Centres Regulations and Remunerations for Public and Political Office Holders Law No. 004 of 2008, as amended in 2015.
The Bill was passed during Wednesday’s plenary at the Legislative Complex, Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa.
Under the amended Schedule A, Vice Chairmen will receive ₦400,000 monthly, while Supervisors, Secretaries and Special Assistants to Chairmen will earn ₦230,000, ₦240,000 and ₦165,000 respectively.
The amended Schedule C also places the monthly remuneration of Legislative Leaders at ₦300,000, Deputy Leaders at ₦250,000 and Councillors at ₦230,000.
Development Centre Coordinators will receive ₦277,000 monthly, while Management Committee Members will earn ₦226,000.
Presenting Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s letter to the House, the Speaker said the amendment was principally aimed at reviewing the remuneration schedules for public and political office holders at the local government and development centre levels.
Leading the debate, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, said the review was within the legislative powers of the State House of Assembly under Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Following deliberations, the House dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to scrutinise and fine-tune the provisions before reconvening for consideration of the revised figures.
The Bill was subsequently passed unanimously after the Leader moved for its passage, with the motion seconded by the member representing Ikwo North State Constituency, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwakpu.
The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Edene Uche Blessing, to communicate the passage of the amended law to Governor Nwifuru.
Odunwa commended the governor for what he described as his commitment to improving the welfare of the people and strengthening grassroots administration.
He also reaffirmed the Assembly’s readiness to collaborate with the executive in advancing the administration’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda across the state.