The Bayelsa State chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on Thursday clarified the level of indebtedness of local government workers in the state.

The clarification followed the report released by the national headquarters of NULGE which listed the state as the most indebted of 23 states with a salary backlog of 16 months.

Mr Akpos Ekeigha, state Chairman of NULGE, said on Thursday in Yenagoa that council workers were owed 14 months, and not 16 months as reported to NULGE headquarters.

“The least is eights and half months and the highest is Ogbia which is 14 months.

”There was a mix-up. I saw the paper on the Bayelsa NULGE Secretary’s table where they counted two half months as full months and that was the source of the mix up.

“For Ogbia Local Government, they calculated two halves as full months and used it to send a text message to the National headquarters of NULGE,” Ekeigha said.

On the disparity between the claims by state government and NULGE, Ekeigha maintained that the arrears stood at 14 months adding that thestate Commissioner of Local Government Administrationmight have been calculating from when she took over.

The Bayelsa State government said on Thursday in Yenagoa that it was not owning council workers 16 months’ salary arrears as claimed by NULGE.

NULGE had in a statement issued on Monday listed Bayelsa and Kogi States as having the highest level of indebtedness to council workers.

Its National President, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel alleged that Bayelsa State owed between 10 and 16 months, while Kogi State owed between seven and 15 months to lead the list of 23 states owing salaries.

Dr Agatha Goma, the Commissioner of Local Government Administration, in a statement, described NULGE’s claims as false and misleading.

Goma said that the indebtedness to council workers in the state stood at nine-and-a-half months,except of Ogbia Local Government Council whose debt is 10-and-half months in salary arrears.

He explained: “This regrettable situation is not deliberate as no responsible government will intentionally deny its workforce their legitimate rights to salary as at when due.

“The failure of local government councils to meet their financial obligations arose principally because of the unexpected economic recession.

“The recession has greatly affected the economic fortune of the country as well as the monthly allocation to the local governme*NULGE logo