By Our Reporter
There is palpable anxiety and grumbling among many aides of the Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade as many of them are yet to get August salary.
The payment of salaries which has since shifted from end of the month to the end of the first week of every new month since his second tenure was done on Monday 6th September, 2021, for the month of August however, many aides including Civil Servants were not paid.
“One of my friends called me on Tuesday 7th September to ask if I had received salary alert and I said no. He then intimated me that salaries had been paid to those who get theirs via First Bank and Polaris Bank but other banks were not captured,” Adamson, a Special Assistant said.
He narrated that many of those who get their pay through banks like Zenith, Access and Ecobanks have been waiting endlessly for their August salaries which have refused to show up.
“We are told salaries are paid from IGR and as the money comes, they pay, but time is running out. Experience shows that His Excellency does not authorise the payment of arrears, so if by 15th when the voucher for the month of September is produced, it means we won’t be paid”. Mercygold, another aide stated.
She said there is rumour that there is a garnishe court order on the salary account which stopped further payment of salaries.
“Nobody is telling us anything about the non-payment, if not for the one week shift in school resumption, we would have been in trouble.” She stated.
Many aides including Commissioners, Special Advisers, Personal Assistants are yet to get their pay for the month of August.
As at press time, the State Commissioner for Finance is yet to respond to enquires.