By Yolamchi Ukaga

Abia State Govern­ment, says the Five Billion, Seven Hun­dred and Fifteen Million Naira it received in the second tranche of the Paris Club refunds from the Fed­eral Government is below its expectation.

The State’s Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku who made the disclosure after a long meeting with labour leaders in the State, insists that the low allo­cation from the Paris Club refund would impact neg­atively on the plans of the State Government to clear all outstanding salary ar­rears, as promised by Gov­ernor Okezie Ikpeazu.

He explained that the original plan was for the State to receive about N13 billion, which the Gover­nor had ordered, should be exclusively committed to the clearing of outstand­ing salaries, but regretted that the Federal Govern­ment could not meet up with the original plan.

Mr. Oriaku, howev­er assured that with or without the bailout that the State Government re­mains committed to im­proving the economy of the State to ensure steady payment of salaries.

He further disclosed that labour leaders have been informed of the de­velopment and that even with the shortfall, the state governor still in­structed that the funds be committed wholly to pay­ment of salary arrears.

According to him, the same committee of govern­ment officials and labour leaders that shared the last tranche of funds will also share this, assuring that those areas where needs are more critical would get more attention.

The Commissioner admit­ted that ministries, depart­ments and agencies (MDAs) in the state are owed just one-month salary, while some agencies owed more than one month arrears would be paid first.

Uchenna Obigwe, chair­man, Nigeria Labour Con­gress (NLC), Abia State Chapter, expressed con­cern over the development, stressing that workers and pensioners in the State were full of expectations over their arrears. He stat­ed that they have confirmed from their colleagues in oth­er States on the shortfall and assured of the coopera­tion of labour to ensure that what is available is applied to areas of critical need.

Source
https://orientdailynews.com/paris-club-refund-n5-715bn-below-expectation-abia-govt/

CC: Lalasticlala , Seun , Mynd44