Payroll Officers Delaying Payment Of Wage Award Approved By Otti- Abia Govt

The Abia state government says payroll officers in Local Government Areas and MDA’s are responsible for the delay in the implementation of N25,000 wage award approved by Governor Alex Otti to cushion the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Director-General, Abia state Debts Management Office, Dr Kingsley Nwigburu, who disclosed this in a Flo FM radio program, said the workers would start enjoying the package once the documentation is received from the payroll officers.

Speaking on the controversies arising from the ongoing verification of workers, especially in LGAs, Nwigburu pointed out that some of the affected workers have issues with their bank details.

Recall that Governor Otti had late last year disclosed that plans had been concluded to increase the salaries of the Abia State workforce.

Otti, who stated this in Umuahia during a media parley with journalists, revealed that he was engaging with stakeholders to improve the minimum wage of the state workers and that soon, the package would be made public.

The reason for adjusting the package, he said, was in line with the realities at hand, especially the economy.

“We do understand that things are a bit more difficult for the people. We are engaging with stakeholders to see how we can improve on the pay of civil servants in line with the present economic realities, where exchange rates have converged upwards and fuel subsidy has been removed and inflation is heading to 30 per cent.

“We are already working to see how we can improve on not just the minimum wage but also across the line, and announcement to that effect will be made in due course,” he said.