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In a bid to restore financial stability to its workforce, the Abia State Government has decided to pay off the accumulated salary debt in installments, signaling a new dawn for civil servants in the state.
During a media briefing in Umuahia on Tuesday, Commissioner Mike Akpara shed light on the government’s strategy to clear outstanding salaries, showcasing the administration’s commitment to fiscal transparency.
Akpara reiterated the government’s dedication to transforming the salary payment landscape, built on the fundamental belief that workers’ sweat and toil ought to be justly compensated.
Akpara revealed that the current government inherited a staggering $40 million (N16.5 billion) in unpaid wages owed to educators in state-run schools and institutions, a legacy debt that has weighed heavily on the administration.
The Commissioner affirmed that the government has made a strategic decision to eliminate the salary arrears, leveraging the momentum of success in other areas of the economy to drive continued growth and prosperity.
Read also: Abia: Otti Mulls Manual To Digital, Revolutionized Economy
“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 7 pm.
“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 sweep.
“We will do it in instalments so that it does not hamper the progress of another sector of the economy,” he said.
At long last, the government has announced a timeline for settling salary arrears owed to employees at state-run learning institutions. Payments will start landing in bank accounts by July or August, with the aim of drawing a line under this protracted issue by the end of the year.
The numbers are in, and it’s a staggering N16.5 billion owed to staff across various state institutions. But there’s hope on the horizon – the government has pledged to pay off these arrears and invest in other critical sectors, bringing some much-needed financial relief to those affected.
The institutions set to benefit from the government’s payment plan include Abia State University, the College of Education in Arochukwu, the College of Health Sciences, Abia State Polytechnic, and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, according to Akpara – a move that will bring financial relief to staff and students alike.
The government has made progress in addressing the salary backlog, the commissioner revealed, with the arrears for April and May now paid in full to workers at Abia State University.
“We decided to run away from situations where subventions are being given to them, yet they are unable to pay salaries.
“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, and 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, and Abia State University -11 months.
“Hospital Management Board was owed for several months. Theirs was humongous that they downtrod.
“We also have ASUBEB and SEMB, the total amounts being owed to them is over N4billion.”
The commissioner cautioned against the use of inflammatory language, imploring citizens to avoid labeling Governor Otti a liar. He emphasized the importance of supporting the government’s initiatives and working together for the greater good.
Akpara highlighted the administration’s prudent financial management, revealing that it hasn’t taken on any new loan facilities since taking office. Instead, it has effectively managed its resources to meet its obligations promptly.
