Abia State government has said that the N16.5 billion salary arrears owed to staff of the state-owned institutions of higher learning by the immediate past administration will be offset in tranches.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara disclosed that the government would equally pay off in batches, the arrears of salary owed to some workers in the state civil service.
Akpara who explained that the present administration inherited a debt of N16.5 billion arrears owed to workers in state-owned institutions of learning, stressed that the government has resolved to clear the debts without hindering progress in other sectors of the economy.
“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 swoop. We will do it in installments so that it does not hamper the progress of other sectors of the economy,” he said.
The Commissioner listed the state-owned institutions of higher learning being owed to include, Abia State University, ABSU, Uturu; College of Education Technical, Arochukwu; College of Health Sciences, Aba; Abia State Polytechnic, Aba and Abia State University Teaching Hospital.
He condemned the financial management practices of the previous administration, noting that subventions provided to institutions did not translate into timely salary payments which over time 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. The past government owed Abia State 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. We also have ASUBEB and SEMB with the total amounts being owed to them being over N4 billion,” Akpara disclosed.
He further stated that payments to workers in state-owned institutions of learning would begin in July or August, to complete the payments by the end of the year, adding that the state government had already paid the salary arrears for April and May owed workers in ABSU.
“A worker deserves his wages. The present administration’s commitment has completely changed the narrative of owing workers’ salaries and has started addressing the long-standing issue of unpaid wages,” the Commissioner said.
While noting that it was unfair for people to criticize Governor Otti and call him names, the Commissioner urged them to support the policies and programmes of the state government.
On new loans, Apara explained that the present administration had not applied for any new loan facility since its assumption of office but added that the previous administration began the process of requesting a loan from the Africa Development Bank ADB, and the Islamic Development Bank.
While stressing that the present administration is completing what the past administration began since the government is a continuum, the Commissioner noted that contrary to speculations, the loans had not been released to the government.
