In a significant move to fulfill his campaign promise, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has initiated the payment of outstanding salary arrears owed to workers in state-owned institutions.
This development marks a crucial step towards clearing the debts inherited from previous administrations.
The payment of N17,629,767,342.09 will benefit workers in various institutions, including:
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Abia State University Uturu
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Abia State Polytechnic, Aba
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Abia State College of Education, Technical Arochukwu
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Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba
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Health Management Board, Umuahia
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College of Health Sciences, Aba
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Abia State Universal Basic Education Board
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Secondary Education Management Board
To ensure a sustainable approach, the payment will be made in 12 monthly installments, with the first batch already disbursed to the affected institutions.
This structured payment plan is designed to prevent financial strain on the state government, allowing for adequate attention to other critical areas of governance.
The Abia State Government reaffirms its commitment to prioritizing the welfare of civil servants.
The payment of these arrears demonstrates the current administration’s dedication to addressing the long-standing issue of unpaid wages, which has plagued the state for years.
The immediate past administration left a significant debt of billions of naira in salary arrears, which the present government has vowed to clear.
The past government owed Abia State Polytechnic -v33 months, College of Education Arochukwu – 22 months, Abia State University – 11 months. The 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 a N4billion”, Akpara explained.
The Finance Commissioner had earlier announced that payments would begin in July or August, aiming to complete the payments by the end of the year.
This move is a testament to the government’s resolve to restore the dignity of workers and promote a positive work environment.
Governor Alex Otti’s decision to pay the first tranche of the arrears of workers’ salaries owed by the immediate past administration is a clear fulfillment of his campaign promise.
He had earmarked N1.5 billion monthly to instalmentally offset the N18 Billion arrears of salaries within 12 Months.
This development has sparked jubilation among Abia workers, who have been denied access to statutory workers’ and retirees’ entitlements for an extended period.
