Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti, has approved over N17billion for immediate payment of salary arrears owed the public servant by the administration of his predecessor in office, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.
The Commission for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced this on Friday through a statement in Umuahia.
The statement read:
“In line with the promise of the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, to defray arrears of salaries owed workers of institutions in the State by previous administrations, the office of the Accountant General has commenced the payment of the arrears to all verified workers amounting to N17, 629,767,342,09 (Seventeen billion, six hundred and twenty nine million, seven hundred and sixty seven thousand, three hundred and forty two, nine Kobo only ).
“The Abia State Government wishes to state that the payment will follow a12- month armortization plan with the first batch already disbursed to the affected institutions. This structured payment is meant to ensure that other areas of governance do not suffer from lack of attention due to limited financial resources.
“By this development, the Dr Alex Otti-led administration has once more demonstrated its commitment to the promotion and sustenance of the welfare of Abia State civil servants at all times,” it added.