Gov Ikpazu laments workers strikes crippling government activities

By Christiana Ekpa

The Abia State government says the ongoing strike by civil servants in the state has paralyzed government activities across the ministries, parastatals, cabinet office and office of the Accountant General, which is responsible for the payment of salaries.
The state government blamed the delay in payment of civil servants in the state on a court order that froze government accounts, explaining that the protracted bank matter was responsible for the non-payment of March and April salaries of workers.
A statement by Chris Ezem, Secretary to the State government, SSG, announced that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu directed the commencement of payment of staff of ministries and parastatals, from Friday, March 12.
The state government directed all affected staff to resume work at their offices immediately and ensure the resumption of activities in all ministries and the office of the Accountant General for the implementation of salary payments.
The statement warned that “any breach of these directives will frustrate the ongoing transition process and other activities.”
The state government further maintained that no core civil servant or ministry was owed salaries before now, adding that the salaries of local government staff are up to date except five months arrears it inherited of which three months have been paid.
The Ikpeazu administration further directed local government authorities to commence immediate payment of salaries of health workers across the 17 LGAs and urged all local government staff to be on duty to ensure competition and commissioning of projects and a smooth transition of power.
The office of the Accountant General, Commissioner for Finance, Office of the Head of Service, and Secretary to the State government, among other government offices have been under lock and key since the commencement of the indefinite strike on Tuesday.