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Supreme Court judgement: Makinde finally bows to pressure, promises to pay sacked council bosses
The Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday agreed to pay salaries and allowances of the former local government Chairmen and councillors who were sacked by his government.
TrackNews Online recalls that the local government chairmen and councilors were elected in 2018 during the tenure of the immediate past Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The council bosses were in May 2019, dissolved by the Makinde administration.
Our correspondent recalls that after almost two years of legal battle, the Supreme Court declared the removal of the council bosses as null and void.
The Court on Friday urged Makinde to without wasting more time, pay the outstanding salaries and allowances of the sacked officials.
Our correspondent learnt that since Friday, Oyo State Government under Makinde had refused to react to the Court judgement.
The government however on Monday said that it has agreed to comply with the Court judgement.
Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Taiwo Adisa, insisted that the government had showcased its commitment to pay off the dissolved chairmen and councillors since February 2020.
Adisa said that the judgement was apparently sending a message to state governors in its attempt to protect elected local governments councils.
Adisa said, “We are on the same page with the Supreme Court of the land on the ruling which ordered the payment of salaries and allowances of the dissolved local governments.
“As far as we are concerned, the Supreme Court, by that judgment, made a policy decision, being a policy court. It was apparently sending a message to states in its attempt to protect elected local governments councils.
“The said council chairmen scuttled the bid at the time because they came up with absolute terms, insisting that they must return to the councils with all their aides.
“The government of Oyo State has full respect for the Judiciary and the Supreme Court of the land and as a believer in the rule of law, the state will comply with the order to pay the salaries of dissolved local government chairmen.”
Return all salaries, allowances – SPN tells Oyo ex-caretaker committee members