Despite the promises made by Gov. Theodore Orji to settle the May and June arrears of salaries of council workers, 247ureports.com nvestigations revealed that the governor who is fondly called Ochendo has failed to keep to his words. As a result of the situation, workers in the 17 councils have called on the governor to save them from starvation by releasing their three months salaries.
Orji had during the strike declared by council workers a forth night ago, promised to settle two out the three months owed the workers before the first day of August 2012.
Sources revealed that council workers have grudgingly accepted the May salaries which are being paid to some council. Most of the councils are said to be battling on how to pay their workers as the funds released are not enough to settle the salaries.” We need about N13million to complement the one we have at hand to be able to start paying the May salaries. The allocation released by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is not enough to commence payment ,” a source at one of the councils told 247ureports.com.
Most of the workers in Ohafia, Aba North, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiukwuato, Obingwa , Umunneochi and Isiala Ngwa South local councils are worried over their fate as their counterparts are being paid one month of the three owed them.
The tension over the delay in the payment of salaries at the 17 council secretariats in the state is far from being over as workers accuse the state government of insensitivity.
A staff of Isiukwuato council, who gave her name as Miss Chinyere said if the salaries are not paid this week, she would be faced with s great difficulty as she claimed to be highly indebted to a good number of people.
“If nothing happens between and weekend, I will be in a great difficulty. I’m highly indebted to a lot of people in a bid to make ends meet since the salaries are not been paid as at when due,” she stated.
In a related development, socio-political organization, Ka Abia Di Nma, have decried the non payment of salaries to council workers in the state. In a statement signed by the chairman of the group, Kingsley Ukpabi, the group said it the situation could best be likened to a situation where the thief invades a victim’s house and steals all items he could lay his hands on and leaves the owner of the house frustrated and starving.
“We are worried about the on going looting of council funds in Abia State. The allocations are regular but workers are being paid as at when due. If the Theodore Orji government in Abia state insists on looting council funds as being obtained, why not ensure that salaries are paid to the poor workers to fend for themselves? Th e National Assembly should make haste to grant autonomy to the councils to save them from collapse and lack of development through the antics of governors like Orji,” the bgroup lamented.
It further on Orji to settle the arrears of salaries of the council workers within two weeks or it will lead a call for his impeachment.
