Abia: Gov. Ikpeazu cuts own salary, allowances by 50%

By The Citizen

Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, on Monday placed himself on half salary and cut down his travelling allowances by 50 per cent until salaries and allowances owed workers are cleared.

Ikpeazu said he is pained by his administration's inability to pay workers' salaries as and when due, stressing that he finds it difficult to receive salary when workers in the state are owed backlog of salaries.

Speaking in Umuahia while swearing in the state new Head of Service, Dr. Vivian Uma, the governor said the plights of workers of the state are serious concern to his administration.

Ikpeazu said that he is pained by the development and promised to do everything to ensure that salaries and allowances of workers in the state are systematically cleared.

He, however, called on other appointees in his government to follow his example, stressing that there was need to cut down on the cost of governance for effective operation.

He congratulated the new Head of Service on the appointment which he described as a milestone, pointing out that the appointment is part of his government's desire to reinvigorate the civil service.

Ikpeazu said that he expects the Abia civil service to be more proactive for the challenges ahead and urged the new HOS to ensure that the welfare of workers is paramount during his regime.