The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Friday disclosed that his administration would between now and 30th of January 2021, commence payment of backlog of staff salaries of parastatals including Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA), Abia State College of Health, Science Management & Technology Aba amongst others.
Ikpeazu in an interactive session with newsmen at Government House, Umuahia, said government resolved to commence the payment of backlog of salaries is in sympathy with the families of the affected staff.
He frowned at the recklessness in wage bill and salary management of some parastatals emphasising that government only pays subvention to parastatals while they generate and manage their establishments.
The Governor stated that the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic is to step up responsibilities in the Healthcare Delivery System of the State even as he announced that the Mother & Child Healthcare facility being built in Umuahia is nearing completion while the ENDSARS protest calls for carefulness in the relationship between Ndị Igbo and other ethnic groups across Nigeria as Igbos are found virtually in every part of the country.
He informed that his administration has empowered Abia Youths through various platforms even as he announced that the TIMASS created by the administration has engaged over 250 youths while the newly created Ministry of Homeland Security has also engaged over 500 youths who just completed their training in Homeland Security.
The Governor said that in addition to gainfully engaged Abia youths, his administration was currently mobilizing Abia youths with a start up fund of between N250, 000and N750,000 for any business of their choice based on proposals presented.
There was also a question and answer session where different journalists asked a wide range of questions to which the Governor provided answers.
ABIA ONLINE gathered that the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr ACB Agbazuere and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor were part of the session.