40 months Unpaid Salaries: Abia former, incumbent governors blame one another of being workers’ biggest problem

The 40 months unpaid workers’ salaries in Abia State, South East Nigeria has triggered traded tackles between the former governor, Theordore Orji and the incumbent, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

The outgoing governor, Ikpeazu and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in the State have been engrossed in crisis over staggering unpaid salaries, which the governor blamed his successor, Senator Theodore Orji, who left and handed over to him on May 29, 2015.

In a statement by his Liaison Officer, Ifeanyi Umere, Senator Orji exonerated himself from the unpaid salaries saga, urging the governor to carry his cross, claiming that his administration did not owe core civil servants before he left office 8 years ago.

Orji maintained that as at the time he left as governor, no core civil servant was owed even one month salary arrears and that in the case of parastatals, they were owed between two and four months.

Orji who represents Abia Central Senatorial District in the Senate explained further that the two to four months salaries he owed civil servants working in parastatals was due to the dwindling revenue across the nation at that time which was known to everyone.

He expressed disappointment at Ikpeazu for owing workers salaries for 40 months despite bailout funds accrued to the state for more than three times, wondering where the billions of naira went to.

“It’s unfortunate that I am forced to comment and refute the half-truths being dished out by those who through their own bad choices have found themselves in a quagmire.

“For the avoidance of any doubt, neither myself nor my administrations is responsible for the staggering salary arrears owed both civil servants, parastatals and pensioners in the state.”