Abia not in debt — Speaker

By  Anayo Okoli

Umuahia—THE Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Agwu Agwu, says that contrary to views held in the state about the high debt profile  of the state, that the state was no longer heavily indebted to any organisation.

Agwu also cleared the air on the approval the House gave the government to borrow $200 million from the World Bank and the approval given earlier by the House for the government to source the sum of N30 billion from the Bond market, saying the understanding of the House was that either of them will be sourced, as the letter from the Governor seeking the approvals contained the same projects.

According to him, the idea was that any one that matures first will be taken, as the projects listed are the same. But the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Jones Udeogu had told journalists last week that the government was going for the two loans because it has a lot of projects to execute.

Agwu who spoke to journalists during an interactive session at the House of Assembly complex, also lamented the extravagant wage bill of the local government councils in the state, saying that the government must down size the work force in the councils if the system must survive.

Salary arrears
Exonerating the council chairmen from the arrears of salaries hanging on the neck of most of the councils, Agwu blamed the over-bloated work force for being responsible for the salary arrears.

He, however, regretted that some of the councils misapplied their excess crude funds, despite his personal advise to some of them.

“They (Councils) have to down size. It cannot continue  like this. We will dialogue with NULGE on this issue. We have to take drastic action, otherwise the system will collapse,” the Speaker said.

According to him, the situation was giving the House and council chairmen concern, saying “everybody is not happy about it. The chairmen are not happy that they have not cleared the salary arrears.”