Workers of the Obingwa local government area of Abia state,yesterday booed the Transition Committee chairman of the council, Hon. Eze Walton and Head of Administration, Mr. Ben Nwogu over non payment of their February and March 2013 salaries.
The workers chanted songs like ‘Pay us our salaries’, the state governor has released money, what is holding our salaries? ‘Ben Nwogu is not good at home or outside’, ’Gov. T.A Orji, please to come to our aid.’
Hon. Eze and Nwogu were said to have been embarrassed by the action of the workers, even as the Senator representing Aba South senatorial zone, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe, members representing Obingwa East and West state constituencies; Hons Princewill Onuoha and Uche Nwankpa and the PDP state executive committee who were on a sensitization of the council sat bemused at the development.
A staff of the Works department of the council who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the workers have suffered enough from what he described as the cabal administration the council.
‘Most times, the state government will release funds for our salaries, but it won’t be paid on time. The Head of Administration, Ben Nwogu is among those spoiling the name of the governor. They will tell that salary has not been released, but when you make enquiries, it is not always true. They give workers the impression that the state government delays salaries. Ben Nwogu should be removed,” he lamented.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that funds for the payment of the salaries of the workers have since been released by the state government but were said to have been trapped in an unnamed bank over a court order obtained by one Barr. C. C Elele who did some legal services for the council.
Other workers of the council accused Ben Nwogu and the TC Chairman of underhand dealings in the events that led to the court order against the use of the account of the Obingwa local government.
“Ben Nwogu knows what he is doing. This judgment was delivered on December 2012 and they refuse to appeal or negotiate with the lawyer. Again, he relived the council’s legal officer of his duties over a dispute, and replaced him with someone who knows nothing about Law. So in all these, they know what they are doing. They stand to gain something now.”
Calls made to the embattled Head of Administration for his comments were left unanswered as at press time.