Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki
The chairman of the south east governors’ forum, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has lamented the failure of the federal government to release June allocation to states and local government areas in the country.
He noted that the delay in accessing the federal allocation would affect governors, council chairmen to pay salaries to workers.
Umahi through the commissioner of Finance, Mr Obinna Nwachukwu made this known while briefing Journalists shortly after the state executive council meeting that took place at the exco- Chambers government house Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.
Umahi however, revealed the preparedness of his administration to borrow funds from banks to pay July salaries to civil servants in the state.
He said the purpose of borrowing funds to pay salaries of civil servants in the month of July was as a result of the failure of the federal government to hold FAC meeting for two times.
“Ebonyi government is making sure that the salaries of civil servants are paid between Thursday and Friday being 12th of July. This is because it has been the habit of Umahi led administration to pay workers salaries on 15th of every month.
“I want to inform you that the government is going extra mile to make sure that this month salaries are paid as at when due. As I’m talking to you, the allocation of the month of June and July have not been accessed by state and local governments.
“We went for FAC meeting, two times but it was not held. It was scheduled for the second time but it failed. It was also scheduled for the 3rd time and failed also. It was scheduled for yesterday being Tuesday but fail to hold.
“As I’m talking to you, the June state allocation has not been accessed. But because of the nature of our governor and police of this government, he has directed that the commissioner of finance and the accountant general of the state should go extra mile to source for loan to make sure that salaries of civil servants are paid at when do” he stated.
