Deputy Governor of Benue State, Benson Abounu, has debunked rumours that the state government was planning to slash workers’ salaries.
He told journalists in Makurdi that the government is rather planning to standardize the salary structure established by the past administration, which he blamed for the high wage bill of the state.
“There is no plan by the Samuel Ortom-led government to slash salaries of workers in the state, rather, there is increased interest on how to regularised the payment of workers salaries as and when due,” he said.
Abounu, who is the chairman, State Emergency Committee on Salary Payment, disclosed that the main agenda of the committee was to work out modalities that would ensure the regular payment of workers’ salaries as well as the payment of the back-log of arrears.
The deputy governor also disclosed that aside the salary structure which is against all norms, the salary payment system is bogged down by several leakages caused by criminal collusion between some corrupt government officials and bank officials.
Abounu who said that the total number of people drawing salaries from the government is in excess of the actual workers of the state, assured that the committee will get it right this time and called for the understanding and support of Benue workers.
He noted that it is in the best interest of the Benue people that only genuine workers draw salaries from government.
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