The governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti has absolved himself of wrongdoing with regards to unpaid salaries of workers in the state, instead saying that administrations that came before him ought to be held accountable.
The governor in his monthly media chat in Umuahia, the state capital insists that it is unfair to hold him responsible, saying he is cleaning the mess of someone else and should be commended.
“Some of the salary arrears were not disclosed, until not too long ago and anytime I spoke in the past, my predecessors will take me on as if I was lying and the people who are being owed were quiet”, he stated.
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According to Otti, when he came on board, his administration cleared the salaries past administrations were owning.
He said the state government entered an agreement with Abia State University (ABSU), College of Education (technical) Arochukwu and the state-owned polytechnic located in Aba, some of who staff were being owed between 33 to 36 months.
The governor said the state is paying these arrears of salaries in addition to other debts owed by the past administrations in the state.
The governor while reiterating that his administration will pay up owed salaries appealed that nobody should put a gun to his head.
“I’m not owing anybody, I have not owed anybody since I took over office“, the governor clarified.
While describing the owed salaries as inherited, he assured that his administration would clear the backlog as funds are available.
The governor also said he has given instructions that payment of arrears of salaries should commence in August, saying in coming days payment will commence.
