The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has thrown more light on the controversy surrounding salaries of some civil servants in the state being allegedly deducted by the government.
Otti stated that enquires were made due to grievances coming from some civil servants about some deductions in their salaries. He revealed that in the course of investigation, it was revealed that the shift from using 2018/2019 tax rate to the current tax rate in deducting the taxes from salaries is the reason for the disparity in salaries.
He state this in Government House, Umuahia, on Friday, August 9, during the monthly media parley with newsmen.
“A lot of people felt their salaries were being deducted, when we investigated those complaints, we found out that what actually happened was that before now an old tax rate was being applied. The 2018/2019 tax rate was being applied and there was a 2021/2022 tax law, which of course, has come into effect. I find it difficult to accept that somebody is pinching salaries, then how do you even do it because the money leaves the account of the state and hits the account of the beneficiary? At what point would somebody deduct the salaries, and if you deduct, where do you take it to?” Otti asked.
He also confirmed to newsmen that the alleged differences and deductions in some local government areas of the state is not true while also stating that what had happened is also connected to tax deductions, using the current rate.
He mentioned that the government had developed a policy where civil servants are paid for overtime duties only on the request of the government.
He said: “If you were getting paid overtime and you were getting some overtime, now the government is saying you are not supposed to work overtime except if it happens that the government needs you to. I think that is what people are mistaking for salary being deducted.”
While responding to issues surrounding the minimum wage, Otti confirmed that the government of Abia State has already set up an implementation committee to look into the matter as it also awaits more instructions from the Federal Government.
He said: “You know the minimum wage announcement was just about the minimum wage of N70,000. What that means is that every other person’s salary would go up".
“So, it is not just going to be a minimum wage for civil servants. Every other salary would be adjusted accordingly.”
The governor also assured newsmen that the government and the Nigerian Labour Congress are already working on a befitting condition for workers, and that the salaries will reflect the practicability connected to the state’s limited resources.
