At the moment, about 18 of Nigeria's states owes their workers salary arrears, with some indebted for over a year. With government revenue dwindling, as a result of falling oil prices, Nigeria's states are getting less in federal allocation, putting many of them in an impossible situation as they have no means of clearing the arrears.
Earlier this week, the Nigeria Labour Congress published a list of states owing workers arrears and this has been picked up by commentators with some saying Imo is one of the big debtors. However, Sam Onwuemeodo, the chief press secretary to Governor Okorocha denied that Imo is among the states owing several months pay.
He said: “The Imo State government only owes its civil servants May salary and the payment for that month is at the verge of being made. We have decided to make this factual claim on the salaries of the civil servants and teachers in the state so that those behind the report can come out with their own facts to back their claim."
Mr Onwuemeodo noted that the government had also lived up to expectations with regards to the payment of the salaries of workers in the parastatal agencies of the state. He said that parastatal agencies had been paid except those that were discovered with irritating padding of salaries for non-existing staff and where high-profile corruption was uncovered by a verification panel.
According to Mr Onwuemeodo, the government would only pay those in the affected parastatal agencies when the issues in question had been rectified. He challenged those behind the report to come up with their facts to controvert the position of the government.
“We would like to be faulted on our claim that we owe civil servants only May salary and the same goes with the teachers. The government of Imo with Governor Rochas Okorocha on the driver’s seat shall continue to be truthful and honest about its claims and counter-claims on issues for the sake of history and posterity, "Mr Onwuemeodo added.
Troubled by the precarious financial situation, Nigeria's governors are meeting today in Abuja to propose a bail out scheme for the financially handicapped states. They intend to brainstorm on possible solutions to the several months of unpaid salaries in the technically bankrupt states among other issues.
Asishana Okauru, the director-general of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, said the governors are worried that if the situation in the affected states is allowed to linger, it may portend danger for the nation’s nascent democracy. At their meeting, they will examine issues relating to the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, the Excess Crude Account and the Revenue Enhancement Scheme as it affects their states.
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