The Governor of Ebonyi State, chief Dave Umahi, has blamed the past administration for allowing its self to be duped by contractors who was alleged to have supplied substandard materials, used in the construction of some projects in the state.
Umahi lamented that the past government led by Chief Martin Elechi, paid huge amounts of money to foreign contractors, especially one Mr. Terimor, who handled the construction of a three-hostel block at the permanent site of the state university located along Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.
The governor spoke through the commissioner for information and state orientation, Dr. Emmanuel Onwe, while briefing journalists in Abakaliki on the outcome of the exco meeting that took place at the exco chamber, said the exco expressed worry on the high level of duping the state witnessed under the watch of the former governor.
He said: “”Some of the atrocities that occurred in the last administration was so deep. Some foreign contractors came to collect money ranging from millions of naira and dollars from Ebonyi State for purposes that is so ridiculous and it can be described as criminal.”
The governor also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state to be patient with his new administration, stressing that the welfare of the workers are very important and cannot be jeopardized just as he pointed out that the option of embarking on industrial action will not solve the problem of the people rather it will be complicated.
“Government has not renege in its decision to honour the increase in the payment of workers’ salaries in the state. What is been worked out is the extant of the increase of the salaries of workers. No state government in the country is paying the increased salary Ebonyi State has agreed to pay.
“The rumour that is going on is that government has refused to implement the increment, but I assure you it is not true. Both the leadership of the labour union and the government are engaging in a discussion on the way forward. And so, there is no need for the workers in the state to go on strike.”
Umahi lamented that the past government led by Chief Martin Elechi, paid huge amounts of money to foreign contractors, especially one Mr. Terimor, who handled the construction of a three-hostel block at the permanent site of the state university located along Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.
The governor spoke through the commissioner for information and state orientation, Dr. Emmanuel Onwe, while briefing journalists in Abakaliki on the outcome of the exco meeting that took place at the exco chamber, said the exco expressed worry on the high level of duping the state witnessed under the watch of the former governor.
He said: “”Some of the atrocities that occurred in the last administration was so deep. Some foreign contractors came to collect money ranging from millions of naira and dollars from Ebonyi State for purposes that is so ridiculous and it can be described as criminal.”
The governor also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state to be patient with his new administration, stressing that the welfare of the workers are very important and cannot be jeopardized just as he pointed out that the option of embarking on industrial action will not solve the problem of the people rather it will be complicated.
“Government has not renege in its decision to honour the increase in the payment of workers’ salaries in the state. What is been worked out is the extant of the increase of the salaries of workers. No state government in the country is paying the increased salary Ebonyi State has agreed to pay.
“The rumour that is going on is that government has refused to implement the increment, but I assure you it is not true. Both the leadership of the labour union and the government are engaging in a discussion on the way forward. And so, there is no need for the workers in the state to go on strike.”
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