Rivers State Government has organised legal department in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
Chairman of the state Local Government Service Commission, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini, while inaugurated the officials of the units, Thursday in Port Harcourt, disclosed that over 80 per cent local government fund was spent in handling litigations against the councils by individuals.
Nmerukini who is a former Mayor of Port Harcourt noted that the individuals capitalise on the fact the there are no legal units at the LGAs to drag them (LGAs) to court, adding that the establishment ot the unit will reduce the litigations against the councils.
He expressed worries that legal actions against the councils were responsible for delays in payment of local government workers’ salaries, stating that the councils spend so much money in court cases.
He noted that the state government had directed all Heads of Local Government Personnel Management to strictly implement the system of no work no pay workers who refuse to show up at work.
Nmerukini added that the state government will no longer tolerate absence to duty by LG workers, noting that the 23 councils in the state now look like grave yards even on working days.
He tasked the heads of the legal units to take the responsibility of pursuing all legal matters facing the councils seriously.
