The Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi, has promised teachers and pensioners they would get their salaries and pension arrears on Wednesday.
Okiyi, who didn’t mention the number of months to be paid, said the government thanked workers for their positive contributions to the success recorded by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration.
A statement by him reads: “In the spirit of transparency, and in furtherance of the need to truthfully inform our people at all times, permit me to state as follows:
– We battled through the bureaucracy and exigencies of banking to ensure that salaries and pensions were paid latest on December 22 to all government workers.
-All Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) got their November salary, with at least six MDAs receiving their December salary before the close of business last Friday.
-The relevant banks received necessary documentations for the payment of December salary to the outstanding MDAs, but couldn’t complete the process before the close of business last Friday.
-Teachers were to be paid with others, but necessary documentations were completed late last Friday.
-We, therefore, expect teachers and pensioners to get their salaries on Wednesday, with other MDAs yet to get theirs.
-Further payments will be made to teachers and pensioners as we begin the disbursement of the third tranche of the Paris Club refund.
-We apologise for the inability to complete the payment processes as instructed by Governor Ikpeazu, and assure workers that everything will be done to ensure they are paid on the said dates.
-Meanwhile, local governments received necessary funds to pay workers last Thursday, and we are monitoring the payment situation.
-A full brief on the status of compliance with the governor’s instruction will be issued on Thursday. Thank You.”
