ABSG says, N5.7 second Paris Club tranche inadequate

Abia State government says, it received the sum of N5.7 billion only as its share of the 2nd tranche of the Paris Club refund from the federal government.

However, it says the amount is not enough to solve its problems especially over salary debts. The state government however noted that it was expecting over N12 billions as its share of the refund.

The Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Oriaku who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting of leadership of the organized labour with the Governor said this development has put the state in a difficult situation especially when the Governor had earlier promised to clear arrears of salaries and pensions owed Abia workers by the end of this month.

According to him, Abia was expecting between N12 to N14 b and regretted that the N5.7 cannot take care of all the outstanding debts owed workers.

He however assured that the state is still committed to clearing the outstanding arrears of salaries and pensions owed Abia workers whether bailout or not.

According to him, in the present circumstance, those parastatals owed more months will be given more attention as MDAs are owed only one month, adding that the highest state received about N6b.

Also, the state chairman of NLC, comrade Uchenna Obigwe said the development is worrisome as there is a lot of indebtedness not caused by the present government.

He said that they will brainstorm to ensure that workers salaries and pensions are addressed.