The renewed effort at painting Akwa Ibom state government in bad light regarding payment of workers’ salaries is not taken kindly by the government especially as the state is among states that do not owe its workers.

Reacting to the inclusion of the state as one of those that owes its workers, the Chief Press secretary/Senior Personal Assistant on Media to the governor, Mr. Ekerete Udo frowned at the inability of the agency that published such damaging report not checking out facts before making it public.

“We take exception to the issue of indebtedness of workers by the state government. We do not owe any worker a dime. Our workers are very happy and are enthusiastic with their works because government gives priority to the payment of their salaries.

“We are therefore not comfortable that we are lumped up with debtor states and would want the records to be updated”, he said.

According to him, the state was able to pay salaries as at when due, noting that, it was a priority of government since workers would be happy and the issue of strike would not be contemplated, thereby making the governor to remain focused.

Corroborating the stance of the governor’s Spokesman, most of the Workers in the state who spoke to The Guardian confirmed that the only salary outstanding salary is June salary, stressing that since the month has not ended they cannot agree that they are being owed.

With more than 50,000 workforce and dwindling federal allocation for some times now, the CPS said the state government should be commended for not owing workers.

The workers however appealed to the new government at the federal and state levels to consider increment of salaries and allowances of workers, because what they earn cannot not meet their daily needs, due to the high cost of living.