By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Abia State Government says it would commence payment of salary Arrears owed civil servants in the state by the past administration by the end of June.

The Immediate past government of Governor Okezie Ikpeazi was owing civil servants in the state for upwards of 30 months salary arrears.

Governor Alex Otti gave the assurance on Saturday in Umuahia when he addressed guests at a thanksgiving reception held in honour of newly inaugurated National Assembly member, Hon Obi Aguocha, representing Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal Constituency.

He put the total indebtedness left behind by the previous administration, “at the last count”, at over N200 billion, saying it is a debt the state has to pay.

“I must assure you that we will deal with them. By the end of this month we would start paying confirmed salary arrears.

“You also know that a lot of our elderly people, who have retired, have been owed several years of pension arrears. We promised during our campaign that we were going to defray the arrears. We will start as soon as possible.

“What is holding us is that we also found out that there is a lot of fictitious figures and numbers that cannot be confirmed,” the Governor explained.

Otti, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kazie Uko, said his government has embarked on proper verification of workers in the state civil service prior to the commencement of payment of the outstanding salaries.

“So we have started with the forensic audit to ensure that we will be paying the right people. We plead with you to exercise patience and understand with us as we work to make Abia State a better place,” the Governor appealed.

Speaking earlier, Hon Aguocha thanked Dr. Otti for making it possible for him to emerge as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and going forward to win the National Assembly seat.

The event attracted several dignitaries from the Ohuhu community, homestead of Aguocha.