BY Tony Nyong

UYO- Elder Nse Ekefre, Permanent Secretary in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Finance, has described as mischievous and maligning, the publications in some local tabloids, on non-payment of salaries to workers in the state.

He said the report was from those who had chosen to embark on actions that would negatively affect the process of transformation being engineered by Governor Godswill Akpabio.

He told Vanguard that Governor Akpabio was by all standard and consideration one of the most outstanding performing governors in the country who all well-meaning and responsible citizens of the state, and indeed Nigerians, were proud of. He said the governor, had long paid workers’ salaries up to September.

Ekefre said: “Notwithstanding the socio-economic transformation and infrastructural renaissance of the state, these set of people had deliberately chosen to portray the governor in bad light to malign his name before the public.

“To ensure that the funny elements do not succeed in their paid mission to mislead the public by standing the truth on its head, we are compelled with due respect to the citizens of our dear state and all stakeholders in the vision of Governor Akpabio to transform the state, to put out the following facts to show that the governor is exemplary in handling issues that borders on the welfare of civil servants, having been waging civilised actions against poverty in the state.”

He listed the governor’s contributions to the welfare of the workers to include, the introduction of the 13th month salary now known as Akpabiomber for workers; payment of leave grant for 2011; payment of consolidated salary to judicial workers, which was part of what delayed August salary; implementation of N18,000 minimum wage, with vouchers already at the treasury, awaiting payments, and the training of civil servants within the state and abroad.