The secretary to Obingwa Local Government Area, Barrister Ugochukwu Amaraizu, has told Abians via his latest write up posted on his facebook handle that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is not to blame for the backlog of salaries owed Abia State civil servants, but he claimed that Ikpeazu’s predecessor Senator T.A Orji is the one to blame.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s aides have continuously made moves to undermine his predecessor by claiming that he is the one to blame regarding backlog of salaries owed Abia State civil servants after close to 3 years of Okezie Ikpeazu in government.
But based on analysis, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s government has received more income than what his predecessor got within his first 4 years, which makes it look as if the government is looking for you to blame for their inability to pay Abia State Workers.
Recently, Ikpeazu’s media aides have published online that the government is not owning workers, but this latest write up by Barrister Amaraizu has betrayed the views of Ikpeazu’z aides.
The article is titled “IKPEAZU PAYS SALARIES EVERY MONTH: THE OBINGWA EXPERIENCE!”
Read full write up by Ugochukwu Amaraizu:
IKPEAZU PAYS SALARIES EVERY MONTH: THE OBINGWA EXPERIENCE!
By Ugochukwu Amaraizu Esq.
Secretary,
Obingwa Local Government Council.
In less than 24 hrs I posted an article with the caption: STOP DOUBTING IKPEAZU, comments started flowing from friends. The essence of the article was to commend the Executive Governor of Abia State- Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D over the ongoing construction of a flyover at Osisioma junction- the first in the history of Abia and old Imo State. Amaraizu still stands to be corrected.
Though I never expected all the reactions to be in favour or support of the ongoing monumental project, i never knew somebody would abandon the subject matter to address the issue of salaries and matters incidental thereto. That is exactly what prompted this write up as can be gleaned from its caption.
I agree that this is a very sensitive post. I may likely receive more attacks and criticisms than words of commendation, especially from those, who would not like to exercise patience to understand my argument/disposition. I am sure that some will begin to drop their comments at the sight of the caption.
Now, let’s go straight to the point!
I was appointed the Secretary of Obingwa Local Government Council in January 2017 by the Executive Chairman of Obingwa- Hon Amaechi Sunday Hanson. I resumed work on the 9th day of January, 2017.
Friends, will you be surprised to hear that from January 2017 till date, there is no month that the Executive Chairman- Abacha does not seal cheque for payment of workers’ salaries. It is not just sealing of cheques. I am aware, by virtue of my position, that workers in Obingwa receive salaries every month. In fact, there was a time ( July & August 2017 ) workers received two months salaries within the space of two weeks.
The pertinent question to ask is: which salary and/or for which month are they being paid? This is why workers are complaining and that is why we also sympathize with them. It is a very simple logic or mathematics that we all must embrace to appreciate this present Governor. Whereas the Governor pays workers every month, the month he is paying is not or may not be the present month. This is the challenge and it is an obvious liability created by the past Administration. This is a fact within everyone’s knowledge in this State. This government inherited that liability from the past government.
Any government that does well deserves commendation. It is not easy for Ikpeazu to pay off the whole arrears of salaries and meet up with other challenges that are of general public interest. Yes! Government is a continuum. Ikpeazu is bound to inherit the liability of the previous Administration and has the obligation to discharge same. While his critics keep on blaming him on his inability to clear all outstanding arrears of salaries in the State, they must take cognizance of the fact that he is not the cause of the whole problems.
Comparatively, Ikpeazu has done wonderfully well. It is only Abians with good sense of judgment that can attest to this fact. The problem, therefore, is NOT that workers are not paid every month since Ikpeazu took over from his predecessor. The problem is that what he pays every month ( in a few government parastatals ) is not always the salary of the month in which he is paying and he is not instrumental to it.
What we need do is to encourage our Governor to pay off arrears of workers in those parastatals that are yet to be cleared. Simple! Workers deserve their wages. No doubt about that! Castigating a Governor, who is working assiduously to deliver democratic dividends to his people, is quite disgusting. When we keep saying Ikpeazu is owing workers salaries in arrears, let us also report that he pays workers every month. Let us also report that some agencies are paid as and when due. If you need more information, pay a visit to either Commissioner For Information- Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Commissioner For Finance- Mr Obinna Oriaku or the Chief Press Secretary- Mr Enyinnaya Apolos.
I rest my case for now……..
