Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Staff of various tertiary institutions in Abia State were jubilant, weekend, as the State Government began to pay N27.6 billion salary arrears owed them by past administrations.
Some staff of Abia Polytechnic Aba were seen in a viral video dancing and singing the praises of Gov. Alex Otti for making real his promise to clear the arrears on monthly installments of N1.5 billion.
They were overjoyed that at last their hope had been renewed.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, in a statement, said the State Government had commenced payment of N1.5 billion monthly, and would sustain the payment for 12 months until the debt is cleared.
The statement read in part: “In line with the promise of the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, to defray arrears of salaries owed workers of institutions in the state by previous administrations, the office of the Accountant General has commenced the payment of the arrears to all verified workers amounting to N17, 629,767,342,09.
“The Abia state Government wishes to state that the payment will follow a 12- month armortization plan with the first batch already disbursed to the affected institutions.
“This structured payment is meant to ensure that other areas of governance do not suffer from lack of attention due to limited financial resources.
“By this development, the Otti- led administration, has once more, demonstrated its commitment to the promotion and sustenance of the welfare of Abia State civil servants at all times.”
In another statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, regretted that those who accumulated the debt when they were in power, would still be critical of the Governor instead of commending him for “clearing their mess.”
“Ironically, those who looted and plundered salaries of State workers will still shamelessly criticise the Governor for cleaning their mess in the name of opposition politics.
“Governor Otti feels fulfilled with the thunderous jubilation and excitement of Abia workers than the bitterness of those denied access to statutory workers and retirees entitlements,” Ukoha said.
