Abia commences payment of teachers, pensioners

The Abia State Government has commenced the process of paying teachers and pensioners.

The state Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, confirmed this to journalists in Umuahia, saying N400 million had been paid into a First Bank account for the payment of state pension while the Secondary Education Management Board account also received N426 million for payment of secondary school teachers yesterday.

“The state government also provided N236 million for payment of subventions to some revenue generating parastatals that are grappling with salary payment challenges,” he said, explaining that the payments were distinct from the expected disbursement of the recently received 3rd tranche Paris Club refund of N5.715 billion.

“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has given approval for N3.2 billion of the Paris Club refund to be used to further augment salary payments with emphasis on teachers’ salary and state pensions and the disbursement will soon commence,” he explained. He said the governor delivered 100% of the 2nd tranche of Paris Club refund of N5.715 billion to workers as evidence of his love and commitment to them.

The commissioner promised to deliver a list of all the MDAs that had received November and December 2017 salary to newsmen as proof that more than 70% of the state workforce were up to date with salary payments.