Abia to pay salary arrears in tranches

The Abia government says it will commence payment of outstanding salaries owed workers in the state.

Mike Akpara, commissioner for finance in the state, made this known on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Umuahia.

He said the Alex Otti administration inherited a debt of N16.5 billion in salary arrears in state-owned tertiary institutions.

Akpara noted that the outstanding salary would be paid in tranches from July and August.

“We need to jump-start the economy of the state and for the velocity of money to improve in Abia, we need to stop going to bed by 7pm,” Akpara said.

“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 will be paid but it is not going to be in one fell swoop.

“We will do it in instalments, so that it does not hamper the progress of other sectors of the economy.”

The commissioner noted that the state had paid the salary arrears for April and May owed to Abia State University (ABSU) workers.

He urged the people of Abia to support the Otti led administration, as he is committed to paying the salaries of workers.

“We decide to run away from situations where subventions are being given to them, yet they are unable to pay salaries,” he added.

“In the past, there was something called generate and use and we noticed that things were not being done properly, a situation where salaries are being owed for 11 months, 33 months, 22 months respectively, in most of those institutions.

“As a matter of fact, the past government owed Abia Polytechnic -33 months, College of Education Arochukwu -22 months, Abia state University -11months.

“Hospital Management Board was owed for several months. Theirs was humongous that they downed tools.

“We also have ASUBEB and SEMB, the total amounts being owed to them is over N4 billion.

“We will continue to apply ourselves to the good works that the state requires to ensure that the people get the dividends of democracy.”