Umahi: I won’t downsize workers

Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahia, yesterday said he will not reduce the state workforce despite the economic challenges facing the state. He spoke at the 21st Priestly Ordination of Reverend Father Abraham Nwali , his Special Adviser on Religious Affairs. Speaking at the occasion, the governor directed that the July salary of workers be paid alongside that of June.

The directive came barely a day to the commencement of the verification exercise of the state’s civil servants in Abakaliki and other locations in the state. Umahi, who was the special guest of honour, reiterated his desire not to cut the salaries of workers or downsize the workforce. He said: “On Thursday,was at the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja and this issue of salary payment, especially those of local government workers came up.

“I said to the Governor of the Central Bank what I do I do? A governor in the North said, ‘I have reduced my workforce and the other from the South- West said the same. But the CBN governor said there are two things you can do: ‘you either reduce their salaries or reduce the number of the workforce.’’

“But I said, here in Ebonyi, we are not going to reduce the workforce and we are not going to reduce salaries of workers.” Explaining that paucity of fund was hindering the payment of the wages of local government workers in the state, the governor restated his government’s determination to take the state to a greater level.