Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has directed the setting up of a seven-man committee to manage the N14.152 billion being expected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Federal Government approved ‘bailout funds’ for payment of outstanding salaries in the state.
The committee, expected to be inaugurated on Monday, September 21, by the secretary to the state government, would be made up of a representative of the head of service; chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Abia State chapter; chairman, Trade Union Congress, Abia State chapter; auditor-general of the state or his representative; accountant general of the state or his representative; statistician-general of the state, and the special adviser to the governor on economic affairs.
The committee will determine the exact amount owed public servants in the state, the actual duration of backlogs owed, apply bailout funds for its original intendment and other issues incidental to salary arrears in the state.
Sam Hart, senior special assistant to the state governor on public communication, who revealed this in a statement made available to BusinessDay, however said the funds were yet to arrive the state. But information available to the state government indicates that the money has been released to the designated Abia State account, and currently undergoing normal internal banking processes, before it is credited as cash.
He explained that the governor had taken this step to ensure that the process of disbursement was transparent.
He also revealed that the Integrated Payroll Verification System, which was introduced by the Ikpeazu-led administration upon assumption of office, had so far saved the state over N300 million from incidences of ghost workers, padding of salaries and other underhand practices during computation of wages.
He observed that the outstanding salaries previously computed in the past and sent in without payment, which presently constitute the bulk of these backlogs, would contain these anomalies and discrepancies that had been uncovered in recent times.
Consequently, he said the committee would take a second look at these outstanding salary claims and pass them through the fine comb that had enabled the state save N300 million, so that all excesses and irregularities were combed out before payment was made.
According to him, “The Okezie Ikpeazu administration is committed to using the bailout fund for the purpose of payment of salary backlogs. But only genuine salary backlogs owed to actual Abia State workers will be paid at the end of the exercise.
“The bailout fund is not free money. It is actually a loan with a 20-year repayment period at low interest rate. So, the governor has a responsibility to ensure its judicious utilisation for the benefit of the people of Abia State.”
He said the governor had given a commitment that by Friday, October 30, 2015, all outstanding arrears would had been offset and therefore called on concerned citizens to support the governor in this noble quest to rid the system of all unscrupulous elements, who collude with themselves to defraud the system.
“In the event that any section of the workforce chooses to make trouble in the course of this process, chances are that they are being instigated by the elements, who want to stampede the government to pay backlogs that include salaries to ghost workers and outrageous padding of salary claims.
“The Abia State government is resolute. The right thing will be done and will be seen to be done by all concerned,” he said.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
