By Solomon Asha
Primary School Teachers and Staff of the Unified Local Government System in Cross River State who have not been paid salary for three months can now heave a sigh a relief.
This is because the State governor, Senator Ben Ayade has constituted a committee to immediately authenticate the Local Government payroll on the issue of ghost workers and other issues that have caused the delay in their payment.
Ayade who made the pronouncement during a media parley with media executives, other senior media men and veterans held at the Executive Chambers, Governor’s Office, Calabar, Monday assured that immediately those issues are sorted out , salary of the affected primary school teachers and staff of the Local Government Councils will be paid this week or at most next week.
The Governor expressed displeasure that for three months the affected persons, their families and other dependents have had to pass through such an ordeal, and promised that in a very short time the date of payment of salaries of the affected workers will be at par with the state workers.
Senator Ayade explained the Local Government system has been consistently bedeviled with the problem of ghost workers, Local Government Joint Account, resulting in the compliant of inadequate funds from the Federation Account reaching the various Local Government Councils, among other issues.
The promise to pay primary school teachers and staff of the unified Local Government system their three months arrears of salaries owed them is coming exactly one month of Ayade in the saddle as Governor of Cross River state.