The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved the immediate payment of arrears of April salaries owed public workers in the state by the immediate past administration of Okezie Ikpeazu.
Governor Otti also approved the payment of June pensions to retirees in the state, some of whom were being owed upwards of 50 months by the Ikpeazu led administration.
In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, he said the payments are in fulfillment of Otti’s campaign promise not to owe pensioners and those in service and to clear all outstanding verified debts.
According to him, “The Governor gave the directive on Monday after a meeting of the Executive Council which had the Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, 16 newly sworn-in Commissioners, the Accountant General and other senior functionaries of the State in attendance.
“Dr. Otti directed the Accountant General to ensure that both the April 2023 salary arrears and the June pension are paid before the end of the week, despite the ongoing verification of pensioners and workers in the government payroll.”