Former Commissioner for Finance in Abia State, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, has denied receiving N10m monthly salary while he served as a Commissioner, from 2015 to 2019....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Oriaku, who served under the former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, clarified while reacting to the current Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, who stated that he receives N10 million monthly….READ FULL ARTICLE
Akpara, in a radio programme in Umuahia, confirmed that he receives N10 million monthly, as Commissioner for Finance, stressing that it is in line with what his predecessors were paid in office.
Oriaku disclosed that he was only paid N500,000 and challenged those who said that he received N10m to investigate and publish any voucher showing that he received more than N500,000 while serving as commissioner for finance in the state.
He said, “As much as I commend the Honourable Commissioner for Finance for coming on air to provide answers to some questions bordering on salaries, pensions, and the humongous entitlements of his office.
“I, however, wish to place on record without fear of contradiction that his receipt of N10 million monthly entitlement, which he said, is in line with past traditions in the office of Finance Commissioners, is, to all intents and purposes, misleading. I, Obinna Oriaku, who served between June 2015 and June 2019, is an exception, and the reasons are self-evident.
“I offered pro bono service to Abia State. What that means was that throughout my four years in office as an appointee of the government, I did not receive a salary from the Abia State government.
“I was on secondment from First Bank Ltd., which continued to pay my monthly salary while I served as Commissioner.
“I was the mastermind of cost reduction measures akin to that era. Upon assumption of office, in line with our philosophy of disruptive change, I reduced the cost of attending monthly FAAC meetings in Abuja from N1.6 million to N500,000 over four years.
“Note, the disruption was not only for my office then but across board, including monthly salary of the governor, which was reduced by 50%.
“The salary for commissioners remained at N196,000 until 2023. Additionally, the executive council (Exco) allowance was reduced from N1 million to N500,000, reflecting the economic realities of the recession at the time.
“This exco allowance, albeit irregular, was sustained even till I left in June 2019. It is therefore preposterous and absolutely misleading to make the claim that his N10 million monthly salary is in line with the tradition he inherited from past Commissioners of Finance.
“From such a claim, I completely exonerate myself and state unequivocally that I was not part of it. I would go further by imploring him to call up files relating to payments made during my stay in that office to verify my claims.
“I can assure Mr. Akpara that his investigations will reveal that there were no such claims.In addition, no monthly overhead was approved for my office; expenses on my driver and police escorts, entertainment of visitors, and the fueling and maintenance of my car were personally borne by me.
“It is therefore both unconscionable and provocative to justify the current N10 million per month even with an intention for a review, when night and travelling allowances for top civil servants in Abia state and salary have remained what it has been for the past years regardless of attendant inflationary trends.
“While I sympathize with the current administration for their peculiar economic challenges, I urge Mr. Akpara to desist from the culture of generalisation, that seeks to paint all past commissioners with the same brush, as he might inadvertently burn his fingers irredeemably by doing such.
“For whoever cares to know, the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, particularly from 2015 to 2017, was populated with selfless individuals who served sacrificially to reposition the state.
“Lastly, it’s essential and advisable to maintain transparency and integrity in public office in order to earn and retain the trust of the people.
“Misrepresenting the past for pecuniary reasons will only deepen mistrust and hinder progress towards more equitable and just governance….READ FULL ARTICLE
