From Henrietta Ashikodi, Umuahia
The Abia State Government says it plans to offset in tranches, the N16.5 billion salary arrears owed staff of the state owned institutions of higher learning by the immediate past administration.
Abia state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara disclosed this to newsmen in his office during a press conference. He assured that the state government would equally pay off the arrears of salary owed some workers in the state civil service in batches.
Mr Akpara explained that the present administration inherited a debt of N16.5billion arrears owed workers in state-owned institutions of learning adding that government has resolved to clear the debts while ensuring that progress in other sectors of the economy is not hindered.
“For salary arrears, the Governor has set up machinery in motion to ensure that salary arrears would become a thing of the past.
“One thing I will promise is that it would be paid but it is not going to be in one sweep. We will do it in instalments, so that it does not hamper the progress of other sectors of the economy”, he stated.
Akpara listed the state -owned institutions of higher learning being owed to include, Abia State University, Uturu, (ABSU), College of Education Technical , Arochukwu, College of Health Sciences, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba and Abia State University Teaching Hospital.
He faulted the financial management practices of the previous administration noting that subventions provided to institutions did not translate into timely salary payments which overtime resulted in months of unpaid wages.
“The total amount of salaries being owed to all these institutions, as we speak is N16.5billion and the government is expected to pay those arrears.
“As a matter of fact, the past government owed Abia State Polytechnic -33 months, College of Education Arochukwu -22 months, Abia State University -11 months.
“Hospital Management Board was owed for several months. Theirs was humongous. We also have ASUBEB and SEMB the total amounts being owed to them is over N4billion”, Akpara explained.
The Finance Commissioner announced that payments to workers in state-owned institutions of learning would begin in July or August, with the goal of completing the payments by the end of the year and added that the State Government had already paid the salary arrears for April and May owed workers in Abia State University, Uturu.
While noting that “a worker deserves his wages”, Akpara emphasized the present administration’s commitment to completely change the narrative of owing workers salaries and addressing the long-standing issue of unpaid wages.
He said that it was unfair for people to criticize Governor Alex Otti and call him names, but rather urged them to support the policies and programmes of the State Government.
He clarified that the present administration had not applied for any new loan facility since assumption of office but added that the previous administration began the process for requesting loan from Africa Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank adding that “we are completing what the past administration started, since government is continuum”.
The Finance Commissioner noted that contrary to speculations, the loans had not been released to the government pointing out the state was managing its finances prudently to meet its obligations.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu was present at the press briefing.
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