As Abia State indigenes joined the rest of states across the federation to mark the 2017 May Day, the state government has assured civil and public servants of its willingness to better their lots.
Speaking during the celebration at Ibeku High School, Umuahia, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said his intention was to have Abia Civil Servants whose salaries were paid at least on the 24th of every month.
Governor Ikpeazu said he was not satisfied with the current situation of an average worker in the State, stating that he was looking at a time when the State would be able to pay salaries with its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
His words, “as a government, as long as we depend on the stipends that come from Abuja every month to pay salaries, continue to depend on what happens to the oil market in the international market, depend on the whims and caprices of various factors that are not within our control, all of these will continue to be the greatest challenge of Abia workers.
“We are looking forward to a period in Abia when we can begin to generate revenue sufficient to pay our salaries so that we going to Abuja will be mere formalities. It is only then that we can beat our chest and say yes, we can pay our workers when their salaries are due”.
Ikpeazu, who congratulated the workers on their day, called on them to continue to work with commitment and also appealed that they should shun attitudes that were inimical to the state civil service rules.
The governor commended Abia workers for their unflinching support for his administration and used the opportunity to inform them that the next tranche of Paris’ Club funds being expected would be handed over to the NLC to handle as usual, promising not to interfere with the funds.
Speaking earlier in an address the chairman of the occasion and Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Uko Nkole, enjoined the unions to see themselves as co-drivers of public policies and as agents of change in the society.
Nkole, who appreciated the unparalleled relationship existing between the State government and the Labour in the State, emphasized the need for dialogue to be used to resolve labour matters in the State.
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