By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said his administration has paid salaries of workers for the month of June 2018 without releases from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).
A statement issued on Thursday by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, explained that this was possible as a result of Mr Wike’s “careful financial engineering.”
Addressing journalists after projects inspection on Thursday, Governor Wike said that workers welfare is a top priority of his administration.
“Our business is to pay workers’ salaries, do projects and develop the state. We reasoned, do we because FAAC has not been released, fail to pay workers’ salaries?
“We had to do some financial engineering to accommodate workers’ salaries, while projects are still going on. We came to serve and there are no excuses,” he said.
The governor noted that his administration is built around making Rivers people happy through projects and programmes that will enhance their well-being.
Governor Wike inspected the ongoing construction of the Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty that will serve Rivers riverine communities and their Bayelsa neighbours.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and the percentage completion at the jetty.
He solicited the understanding of traders around the premises as they will be relocated to create space for the contractors to conclude the shore protection of the Jetty.
“As you can see, the people are happy. They are celebrating this project. As usual, they have trooped out in their numbers to show their appreciation,” he said.
Rivers State Governor was accompanied on the project inspection by the Commissioner of Transport, Hon Michael West, Special Adviser on Land, Dr Anugbum Onuoha, Chairman of Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Chief Oris Onyiri and Chief Ejor.
