on JULY 21, 2011 · in NEWS

…Orji to prune aides

BY ANAYO OKOLI

Umuahia – ABIA State government, yesterday, expressed doubts over its ability to pay the N18,000 minimum wage to its workers.

This came as Governor Thedore Orji was said to be planning to prune the number of his personal aides.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Don Ubani, told journalists, yesterday, that the government would pay the new wage if revenue allocation was adjusted upwards in favour of states and local governments.

Ubani said that Abia State paid N1.8 billion monthly wage bill, out of an average monthly federal allocation of N2.8bn.

He argued that with the new minimum wage, nothing would be left to run the administration.

Ubani said: “If the minimum wage is to be critically implemented, it means that many states, including Abia, would be left with nothing after paying salaries and allowances.

“The idea of the federal government having 52 per cent of the federal distributable revenue is unacceptable.

“That the governors have accepted to pay the N18,000 wage is a sign of good intent, but there is something that is very important: the issue of fiscal federalism should be restored.

“If it is not reviewed, it would leave the states badly handicapped. When the states are financially healthy, there will be peace and stability in the system but if they are sick, there will be crises.”

Ubani, however, noted that Governor Orji was determined to cut down the high cost of governance in the state by reducing the number of his aides.

He said the reduction of the governor’s security vote could only be decided by him, based on the security situation in the state.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/we-cant-pay-new-wage-abia-insists/

op

u are looking trouble

not all states can pay. fact even the so called oil states are so called future japan and china states

alj_harem:

op

u are looking trouble

Lol, there is nothing tribal in me posting this article

alj_harem:

op

u are looking trouble

It's not trouble but it shows how foolish that Orji can be. How can a state that have a big city like Aba still complain about money?
The money coming out from Aba and the state's NDDC allocation is enough to do what is right. Imo state is doing good now because of Rochas determination to put out corruption and remember there is nothing like Aba in Imo state.
Just use the money you have and things will go on well.

alj_harem:

not all states can pay. fact even the so called oil states are so called future japan and china states

It was some northern governors started saying they can't pay the new minimum wages, their expressions generate a heat debate here, some are of the opinion its due to poverty nature of north that's why they cant afford it. Now that the clock has turn around does that mean northern governors are steadfast compared to their southern counterpart? is just a question,

henry101:

It's not trouble but it shows how foolish that Orji can be. How can a state that have a big city like Aba still complain about money?
The money coming out from Aba and the state's NDDC allocation is enough to do what is right. Imo state is doing good now because of Rochas determination to put out corruption and remember there is nothing like Aba in Imo state.
Just use the money you have and things will go on well.

Mhm you done talk your own, if i do not mistaken i think it was Sokoto state follows Lagos interms of IGR what Aba has that's better than Lagos, Kano and Rivers to generate revenue?? but yet they foolish governors (in exception of Lagos) dont want to do the right thing, Well its aloota must continue.

Abu-Maryam:

It was some northern governors started saying they can't pay the new minimum wages, their expressions generate a heat debate here, some are of the opinion its due to poverty nature of north that's why they cant afford it. Now that the clock has turn around does that mean northern governors are steadfast compared to their southern counterpart? is just a question,  

thank you my brother i just wanted to post that just to show my southern brothers that poverty knows no tribe or ethnic group

henry101:

It's not trouble but it shows how foolish that Orji can be. How can a state that have a big city like Aba still complain about money?
The money coming out from Aba and the state's NDDC allocation is enough to do what is right. Imo state is doing good now because of Rochas determination to put out corruption and remember there is nothing like Aba in Imo state.
Just use the money you have and things will go on well.

Ha NDDC money is very good but i don't think the money would be alright to pay 18,000 per worker

I might be wrong but the tax gotten from oil companies in Abia state should do the trick

Orji is not doing well at all. Imo state is not bad. Orji needs to learn from Rochas

Abu-Maryam:

Mhm you done talk your own, if i do not mistaken i think it was Sokoto state follows Lagos interms of IGR what Aba has that's better than Lagos, Kano and Rivers to generate revenue?? but yet they foolish governors (in exception of Lagos) dont want to do the right thing, Well its aloota must continue.

well said. I think Rochas is paying the minimum wage

the guy is not bad

I am not saying Abia's IGR is the highest but the state got the money to pay the minimum wage and build the necessary infrastructure through the IGR, Aba, Nddc and Fed allocation.

henry101:

I am not saying Abia's IGR is the highest but the state got the money to pay the minimum wage and build the necessary infrastructure through the IGR, Aba, Nddc and Fed allocation.

I did not contradict with wat you opined, what i was saying even the big players are not ready to pay, so states like Abia can be fore players to say capital NO!!

The OP is looking for trouble. He knows Abia should be of no concern for him.

How many personal aides does one governor need? How much is needed to run an administration? Just one failure after another.

EzeUche:

The OP is looking for trouble. He knows Abia should be of no concern for him.

so what happened to your "The Naira stops at Fashola"? Hypocrite.

seanet02:

so what happened to your "The Naira stops at Fashola"?  Hypocrite.

I would think that most people on NL would know my dislike for T.A. Orji already. Tribalist like yourself need to stop irritating me.

Nope,

EzeUche:

I would think that most people on NL would know my dislike for T.A. Orji already.

I swear, many don't ever think to consider simple, already established things like that when they dream up the topics they want to post.

Abia still makes money from internal generated revenue, the states get money also from excess crude account, Orji should try to implement the new minimum wage, let him cut his security vote like Rochas Okorocha instead of trying to get rich like Orji Kalu.

" The dime stops at Orji" . hehe.

Seriously, no diff between the N and the SE. Like long lost brothers. Cane and Abel. Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Boko and Haram.

You core tribalists on nairaland will simply not stop.
When will you all shealth your swords? who go surrender first?
na wa ooooo

Seriously why can't states pay minimum wage?

Yet same states pay huge bonuses to lawmakers, sounds weird . Yet they hire 100 aides and assistants to themselves with fat salaries, yet the same govt wants to hire 10,000 people without creation of jobs. Please they should pay the wage and seek other ways to generate revenue for their states. I ask myself why most governors are somewhat clueless.

Ileke-IdI:

" The dime stops at Orji" . hehe.

Seriously, no diff between the N and the SE. Like long lost brothers. Cane and Abel. Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Boko and Haram.

I will ask you again, who did this to you? How did it get to this level?

He can't pay? and he was busy sharing money to his security details that led to this week's shootout in d govt house? He's got to be kidding! Aba alone can pay workers salary for him. . .either he still wants to steal and share the his state money or he simply lacks d initiative to generate revenue.

Anybody that thinks that he can not pa18K should resign. Period!

Abia should be one of the richest states in the country.With Abia second only to Onitsha in terms of industriousness in the SE region

the last time i checked, this same governor told us that Orji Uzor Kalu and the mother are the reason for the situation in the state but thank God that at last, he is free from bondage. no who knows.
if anyone is saying any state in nigeria cannot pay ordinary N18,000 minimum wage, that person must be a mentally challenged slowpoke.
with the bribe money these govs get from the president in the name of insecurity volts, every worker in the state can earn as much as 50k per month but what do u expect from a useless hell resemblance in the name of a country where thieves are celebrated according to their skills and abilities?
it is a shame that from our aso rock to our various state seats of powers, what we have as occupants are authentic criminals and anti-masses. men who lack respect for the poor people. greedy and wicked idiots that share biscuits, umbrellas and rice to the poor masses just to buy their votes. men and women who kill and destroy just to get there.
i will say this over and over again, pdp has no plans for this country and as long as they remain in power anywhere, the fate of the ppl will remain in the balance.
imo state has been set free from their captivities while abia just stepped in.
shame to pdp and whatsoever they represent.

How come IMO can pay minimum wage but the so-called industial abia cannot ? ?

That state is where the devil lives.

Am sorry but abia state governor is not thinking well ABA should be his first priority make the place business friendly  improve the infrastructure  and set of a system were by people pay their tax he can generate enough money from there to carter for wages and create more jobs dont get it plus they are member of NDDC, abia state need a governor with fore sight,



check his facebook page you will find out the man is not serious at all.

I LAUGH IN YUSUFIYYA Islamic MOVEMENT

I need someone to reconcile the following two statements for me pls.
1. It costs ₦1.28 Billion to maintain ONE (1) legislator for a single tenure of 4 years. El Rufai,2011.
2. Abia State paid ₦1.8 billion monthly wage bill, out of an average monthly federal allocation of ₦2.8bn. Chief Don Ubani,2011.

If you still do not understand what is ridiculously absurd (but true) about the above statements, then you are no where close to understanding the problem Nigeria is facing.

Ugobelu:

Anybody that thinks that he can not pa18K should resign. Period!

Na beans? So how many standing govs would we have left?
Why dont you people start paying taxes?

If state Govs agree to do the right like cutting their excesses and remove personal greed 18k per month shouldn't be a big deal. As for Orji, half of the cost of rigging himself back to power can pay his workers salary for a whole year seriously.