Kogi Ex-Political Office Holders Demand N2.7bn Arrears

A group of former political office holders in Kogi State has appealed to Governor Ahmed Ododo to settle the remaining ₦2.7 billion in salary and allowance arrears owed to them.

The appeal was made on Wednesday in Lokoja during a press conference addressed by the forum’s chairman, Musa Abdullahi, and secretary, Muhammad Omale.

The forum, made up of former local government chairmen, vice-chairmen, councillors, and other officials, was created in 2013 to fight for their entitlements after the state High Court dissolved the councils.

Abdullahi explained that their troubles started in 2014 when the High Court annulled the election of 21 council chairmen and others, though the Court of Appeal later overturned the decision.

He noted that while their tenure expired in 2016, former Governor Yahaya Bello had pledged to pay arrears amounting to ₦4.7bn. Bello eventually released ₦2bn in three instalments, with the last tranche facilitated under Governor Ododo.

The group is now urging the governor to pay the outstanding ₦2.7bn balance.