Like many of Nigeria's 36 states, Oyo is struggling to pay its salary arrears due to the fall in global oil prices which has alternatively affected the amount they get from the federal government. It now appears that this crisis has also spread to the 32-man Oyo State House of Assembly as its members have not been paid furniture and car allowances for the last two months.
As a result of the strike, the house did not sit yesterday and it is not yet clear when the legislators will call off their action. One of the aggrieved lawmakers said that despite the cash crunch being experienced in the country, some state governors still manage to settle their lawmakers, asking why they should be the only ones suffering in the whole of the southwest.
He added: “We understand that the crash in the price of crude oil has brought the economy to its knees and the consequent drop in revenue affects all the 36 states as well as the federal government. However, in spite of this dire situation, all other governors have sorted out the allowances of their state houses of assembly.
"Throughout the country, only those of us who are lawmakers in Oyo State are left languishing. During the last assembly, in Governor Ajimobi’s first term, cars were bought for all the lawmakers and they were also paid furniture allowances, with the running costs of the House paid regularly."
Pointing out that these allowances are statutory, the lawmaker added that the House did not sit last week as a result of the accrued allowances. He pointed out that the running costs for the office of the governor are paid regularly, so asked why is the House is left out.
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