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Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on Monday announced the slashing of his salary and travel allowance by 50%.
He made the announcement at the Government House Umuahia, while swearing in the state’s new Head of Service, Dr. Vivian Uma,
Ikpeazu said he was deeply pained by his administration’s inability to pay salaries of workers as at when due following the dwindling federal allocation.
He said he is doing this to personally identify with the suffering workers and would not lift the self imposed austerity until the salaries and allowances owed workers were cleared.
Some workers, especially those in the parastatals, as well as pensioners are being owed up to six months salaries.
He as well called on political appointees to follow his example, stressing that there is need to cut down the cost of governance.