24th July, 2015
Sam Obinna Ibe/Umuahia
The Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Economic Affairs, Mr. Obinna Oriaku has debunked media reports that Abia State government has received N3 billion as bailout from the Federal Government.
Oriaku stated this on Thursday at Government House, Umuahia, eastern Nigeria, adding that the state government needs N3 billion to pay workers’ outstanding salaries.
To this end, Oriaku maintained that the information is not correct and called on journalists to discountenance it, saying that the information was dished out by an aide who did not have correct information on the matter.
He revealed that no state government has received any bailout.
On the issue of N30 billion loan said to have been allegedly approved for the state by Abia House Assembly, he said it was not a fresh borrowing but an accumulation of salaries and pension of workers and pensioners respectively.
He added that what the state did was to get resolution to realign old departments, saying that “with this we will be able to pay outstanding salaries and pensions.”
Oriaku also said the state government has outlined measures to trim down overhead cost and the Governor has cut down his entitlements and everybody in the state has seen that it is not business as usual.
According to him, at the end of the verification exercise the state will save N160 million through weeding out ghost workers and curbing truancy, adding that the government wants a policy that will interface with real workers and pensioners.
Oriaku disclosed that the exercise is not to witchunt anybody but to make sure only those working will get their pay and that after the verification exercise the salaries will be paid as at when due.
He pointed out that there are 65 MDAs in the state and that 62 of them had been paid.