Wike says careful financial engineering has enabled him pay June salaries

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has stated that his administration was able to pay the salaries of Civil Servants for June 2018 without releases from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) because of careful financial engineering.

Addressing journalists after projects inspection on Thursday, Governor Wike said that workers welfare is a top priority of his administration.

Many states across the country are having it difficult to pay salaries of civil servants since may due to the irreconcilable differences at the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) which has prevented the release of funds to the three tiers of government.

The Governor told journalists: “Our business is to pay workers salaries, do projects and develop the state.  We reasoned, do we because FAAC has not been released, fail to pay workers salaries?

“We had to do some financial engineering to accommodate workers salaries, while projects are still going on. We came to serve and there are no excuses.”

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He noted that his administration is built around making Rivers people happy through projects and programmes that will enhance their well-being.

Some of the projects inspected the Governor included the ongoing construction of the Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty that will serve the riverine communities and they’re of Rivers State and their Bayelsa neighbours.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and the percentage completion at the jetty.

He solicited the understanding of traders around the premises as they would be relocated to create space for the contractors to conclude the shore protection of the Jetty.

“As you can see, the people are happy. They are celebrating this project. As usual, they have trooped out in their numbers to show their appreciation,” he said.

The Governor was accompanied on the project inspection by the Commissioner of Transport, Hon Michael West, Special Adviser on Land, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, Chairman of Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Chief Oris Onyiri and Chief Ejor.