Ebonyi assures workers of pay amid non-release of federal allocations

The Ebonyi State government has assured its workers that it would continue to pay their salaries in spite of the non-release of June and July federal allocations.Commissioner for Finance, Obinna Nwachukwu, disclosed in Abakaliki yesterday that Governor David Umahi had directed that payment of this month’s salary should commence immediately.He said the state government’s decision was in keeping with his promise of paying workers in the state on or before the 15th of each month.

He explained that due to challenges with the Federation Account, the Federal Government had been unable to remit the state’s allocations for two months.Nwachukwu told Guardian that Governor Umahi has directed the Accountant General of the state to borrow money from any source and commence the payment of workers’ salaries tomorrow.He maintained that allocations for the month of June and July have not been signed in any of the three tiers of government.

“We went to the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for the first time, but it did not hold. It was scheduled for the second time and it failed. It was scheduled for third time and it did not hold and it was also scheduled for two days ago, still it did not hold.“As we speak, the Federal Government has not signed the allocations for the months of June and July but because of Governor Umahi’s nature and his government’s policy, he has directed me and the Accountant General to go the extra mile to source for a loan and ensure that we pay all workers even before the normal time of salary payment,” he stated.