Aba North LG workers protest salary arrears

By Anayo Okoli

Umuahia—HUNDREDS of workers of Aba North Local Government Area of Abia state yesterday, stormed Government House, Umuahia, to protest the seven month salary arrears owed them by the council.

All attired  in black , the protesting workers marched  round the adjoining streets before ending up at the Government House, where they presented their complaint to the Governor, Chief Theodore Orji.

Vanguard had reported last week that council workers in Abia state were groaning under  months of salary arrears. The report also named Aba North and Aba South councils as the two councils that owe the highest number of months, with each owing its workers between six and seven months arrears.

The protesting workers accused the chairman of the Council, Mr. Ifeanyi Ikwechegh of being insensitive to their plights. They also accused him of embarking on wasteful spending  to the detriment of the workers.

The workers said they could not understand why the chairman would deliberately engage in extravagant spending, when the workers were dying of hunger on account of the non-payment of their salaries for  months.

The workers said they were surprised that even during the period of excess crude revenue, the chairman still owed them.