The Abia State government has revealed that workers in state-owned tertiary institutions are owed N16.5 billion in salaries, a debt inherited from the previous administration.
Commissioner for Finance, Mike Akpara, disclosed this in Umuahia, listing the affected institutions: Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU); College of Education Technical, Arochukwu; College of Health Sciences, Aba; Abia State Polytechnic, Aba; and Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.
“The total amount of salaries being owed to all these institutions, as we speak, is N16.5 billion and the government is expected to pay those arrears,” Akpara stated. He detailed the arrears as follows:
– Abia State Polytechnic: 33 months
– College of Education Technical, Arochukwu: 22 months
– Abia State University: 11 months
– Hospital Management Board: Several months
– ASUBEB and SEMB: Over N4 billion
The Finance Commissioner announced that salary payments for state-owned institution workers would commence in July or August, aiming to clear the arrears by the end of the year. He noted that Abia State University workers received their April and May salaries.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Abia State University recently highlighted that staff were still owed salaries and faced deductions in their April and May payments.
