TVC E. Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed that incessant destructions of pipelines by militants in the Niger Delta region has affected the payment of salaries.
The Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups have claimed responsibility for the destruction of oil and gas pipelines in the region.
According to reports, the Delta state governor who spoke at Government Office Annex in Warri at a stakeholders’ meeting cautioned that salary of workers was at stake due to the drop in oil production caused by the militants.
He said: “The larger Nigerian government has been in financial crisis over dwindling oil prices. Increased production would have helped cushion the impact but instead we are faced with destruction of oil assets.”
“Dealing with dwindling oil prices and destruction of oil assets, we are now producing just half of our quota and we are all really worried because of the greater effect is on Delta State.
Before now we receive up to N20 billion monthly, but what we have now is so low. Last time we got N3.4 billion. Last month what we received has dropped to N3 billion.
We now get 1/7th of what we use to have.” He said the problem was also compounded by the drop in the state’s internally generated revenue. “We met a wage bill of N7.4 billion. Our workforce has been unchanged.
With biometrics and rationalization, we trimmed that to about N6.8 billion. With the situation, we have in our hands, we are not in position to pay workers regularly anymore.
“If we produce our normal volumes, we won’t have it this bad. We have had to reduce support to the councils. And apart from poor income from Federation Account, IGR has also gone down because money is not circulating.
“I do know that we were receiving reasonable Pay As You Earn, PAYE of up to N1.5bn and N1.6bn monthly. That has gone down. We should realise there’s a challenge. Political office holders, traditional rulers should build peace. Delta State has been on the news for the wrong reasons and that’s not where we want to be.”
Join TVC News BBM Channel C0021B67E
Follow Us On Instagram – TVCconnect
Follow us on twitter – @TVCconect
Like us on facebook – TVCconnect
