Dr. Alex Otti, the Labour Party’s candidate for governor in Abia State, has voiced his concern over the state’s failure to pay civil servants’ outstanding salary arrears.
In a recent meeting with a few select church leaders in the communities of Amuda and Isuochi in Abia State, Otti spoke out in opposition to a clergyman’s scathing remarks about the festering economic hardship his parishioners are experiencing as a result of the non-payment of their salaries while campaign tours are still taking place in the areas.
He noted that pastors and other Christendom leaders are now the ones who suffer the most from what appears to be a deliberate PDP policy to deprive state employees of their livelihood, particularly teachers who are owed many months’ worth of wage arrears.
His words: ” I can relate to what you have said because if you’re pastoring teachers and they have not been paid, how can they support themselves? So, what will happen is that Church leaders like you will be the ones supporting the teachers.
“If a teacher comes to you today and says pastor, my family has not eaten; if it is just N500 you have in your pocket, you will give it to him. You are the one now paying tithes to him. So, that’s what it is”.
The Abia Gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party was flanked by his wife, running mate, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, and the coordinator of the State Campaign Council, Acho Obioma during the meeting with Christian leaders.
