BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sokoto state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accuses the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) led government of resorting to overdraft before meeting it’s obligations.
Making the allegation in a press release signed by the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, the party expressed gave concerns on the development saying, this is coming at a time when huge amount of money is coming into the state from the federation account every month.
“”The PDP is constrained to accord credence to the widely held claim that the State Government currently resorts to overdrafts to meet up with its obligations to civil servants and pensioners. We view this as an alarming development, considering the unprecedented funds that accrues to the State from Federal Allocations monthly, without any visible competing expenditure on real development projects”.
While decrying that their sympathy also goes out to all employees in the state who are yet get their February salary, PDP said, as things stands, some civil servants might not get paid even after fasting.
This, according to the party, could be linked to the ongoing politically initiated workers verification exercise which has made life very biting for some workers perceived to be apologetic to the PDP.
The release from Hassan Sahabi Sanynnnawal read in part, “‘It is with deep sympathy for state government employees and concern over the condition of the Sokoto State civil service that the People’s Democratic Party in the State wishes to express indignation over the repeated failure of the Sokoto State Government to promptly pay monthly salaries to its employees.
“‘This sad development which reared its ugly head, since the APC administration of Ahmed Aliyu made a belated attempt to pay the national minimum wage, has now become the norm. We note that salaries are now delayed up til the middle of the new month, along with a backlog of unpaid workers from the previous month.
”The PDP is constrained to accord credence to the widely held claim that the State Government currently resorts to overdrafts to meet up with its obligations to civil servants and pensioners. We view this as an alarming development, considering the unprecedented funds that accrues to the State from Federal Allocations monthly, without any visible competing expenditure on real development projects””.
Continuing, Hassan said, ”Most regrettable is Ahmed Aliyu’s failure to pay February salaries way into the month of March and the beginning of the sacred month of Ramadan, which is the first time in the history of Sokoto State. It is additionally regrettable that many civil servants are still unpaid, as the middle of the fasting approaches”‘.
He therefore submitted that, the development negates the governor Ahmed Aliyu’s pledge of prompt settlement of salaries to show a gross deviation from his lofty campaign promises to the people of the state.
