By Ebriku John Friday
In fulfillment of his promise during the yuletide season, Cross River State philanthropist and CEO of Opal Group Limited, High Chief Higgins Peters, Thursday, made payment of N380,000 as N10,000 increase on salary of the 37 Yala Local Government Area clan heads in Cross River State.
Peters made the payment on the heels of fulfilling his earlier promise to add N10,000 each to all Yala Local Government Area clan heads numbering 37 on Thursday January 25, 2024, which was also confirmed by the account officer responsible for the payment of their monthly salary for onward disbursement to the highly revered royal fathers.
The payment which is coming days after High Chief Higgins Peters (the Emoma and Akpa Owo of Yala Land) buried his younger sister, later Mrs Juliana Akpowu Ezekiel Nee Peters, attest to the fact that he is a leader who keeps to his words.
According to the calculation of the payment of N380,000, while 36 of the clan heads receives N10,000 each as additional sum on their salary, the Paramount Ruler will receive N20,000 additional payment.
Meanwhile, the APC Chieftain had earlier promised the 37 Clan heads about the increase, and also assured that he will continue the payment until December 2024 with a likely review in 2025.
He (Peters) explained that he was doing all these because he is worried by the fact that clan heads are the primary custodians of tradition, heritage and peace within the communities, yet most times taken for granted, overlooked and not properly recognized or remunerated.
He also appealed to the government at all levels, corporate organizations and individuals to wake up to the challenges of traditional institutions and its heads and extend their much needed support to His Royal Highnesses and His Royal Majesty the Paramount Ruler.
It would be recalled that, High Chief Peters, who was represented by Commissioner for Housing, Dr Beatrice Igwe and Francis Peters, donated N20,000 and a bag of rice to each of the 37 clan heads as Christmas gift during the Christmas celebrations.
