Members of the Abia State House of Assembly have expressed dismay at
\ngovernment parastatals that are owing their staff wages running into
\nmonths despite receiving monthly subventions from the state government,
\ngenerating revenues without remitting any amount to the coffers of the
\nstate.<\/p>\n
Moving a motion of Urgent Public Importance for the House to investigate
\nthe activities of some agencies of the Abia State Government, the
\nMajority Leader, Solomon Akpulonu, lamented the level of corruption in
\nsome of the parastatals especially ABSU, AbiaPoly, Health Management
\nBoard, BCA, School of Health among others and called on the House to
\ninvestigate the operations and finances of these institutions with a
\nview to stemming the ugly tide and not hesitate to wield the big stick
\nwhere necessary, no matter who is found wanting.<\/p>\n
Speaking further, Akpulonu who represents Obingwa East State
\nConstituency said, “Some of these institutions operate up to 20 accounts
\nwithout being accountable. For example, Abia State Polytechnic has up to
\n20 accounts that empty into private pockets. Mr Speaker, some of these
\nagencies of Government generate monies but all the funds go into private
\naccounts. We must call them to give account”.<\/p>\n
Supporting the motion, Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Paul Taribo,
\nsaid, “This matter is very important. I have discovered that among Heads
\nof these agencies of government, there are bitter infightings among
\nmanagement staff, and you ask, what are they fighting for? Nothing else
\nother than how to embezzle the money that is supposed to be used to run
\nthese Institutions and pay their workers’ salaries. We can no longer
\ncontinue to fold our hands here thinking that all will be well by
\nitself. We have to act now!”.<\/p>\n
Hon. Godwin Adiele, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Hon. Emeka
\nOkoroafor, all Members representing Ukwa West, Umuahia South, Isiala
\nNgwa North and Isuikwuato state constituencies respectively, and the
\nDeputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu, all aligned themselves to the
\nmotion and wondered why these institutions which generate revenues they
\nneither pay into government coffers nor account for because of the
\nnon-interference of the executive in their operations, still receive
\nsubventions, yet, find it difficult to pay salaries of their staff. They
\ntherefore urged the House to treat the issue decisively and bring to
\nbook anyone that might have compromised themselves.<\/p>\n
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Orji, agreed with the
\nsubmissions of his colleagues, saying, “there is no better time to stop
\nthis menace of revenue leakages and non-payment of salaries to staff by
\nmanagement of these institutions.”<\/p>\n
The committees to carry out the investigations were announced as
\nfollows:<\/p>\n
Committee to Investigate the operations of ABSU, Abia State College of
\nEducation (Technical), Arochukwu (ASCETA)<\/p>\n
Hon. Kennedy Njoku – Chairman<\/p>\n
Hon. Taribo Paul – Member<\/p>\n
Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike \u2013Member<\/p>\n
Emeka Otumchere \u2013 Secretary<\/p>\n
Committee to Investigate Abia State Polytechnic (AbiaPoly), Aba<\/p>\n
Hon Jerry Uzosike – Chairman<\/p>\n
Hon Chijioke Chukwu – Member<\/p>\n
Pastor Mike Ugochukwu \u2013 Secretary<\/p>\n
Committee to Investigate School Of Health, Aba<\/p>\n
Barr Emeka Okoroafor-\u00a0 Chairman<\/p>\n
Hon Stanley Nwabuisi – Member<\/p>\n
Hon Godwin Adiele – Member<\/p>\n
Hon Nnamdi Allen- Member<\/p>\n
Amaka Ukwu-Rocks \u2013 Secretary<\/p>\n
Committee to Investigate Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA),
\nUmuahia.<\/p>\n
Hon Ginger Onwsuibe – Chairman<\/p>\n
Hon Chijioke Chukwu-\u00a0 Member<\/p>\n
Mr Kingsley Alozie – Secretary<\/p>\n
While reminding the committees that Abians were looking up to them to
\nend the disturbing cycle of non-payment of salaries occasioned by
\ncorrupt practices by management of the institutions, the Speaker said
\nthe process has just begun and that it is going to be a continued one.<\/p>\n
Members of the Abia State House of Assembly have expressed dismay at government parastatals that are owing their staff wages running into months despite receiving monthly subventions from the state…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67368,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n