Okorocha orders suspension of AG and arrest of bank managers over delay of salary payment

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Friday suspended the Accountant-General of the State, Mrs. Stella Udogwu over the non-payment of the November salary of Local Government Workers.

The governor also ordered the arrest of the Branch Managers of Ecobank and Access Bank where the money for the payment was lodged, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, stated in a release on Friday.

The governor said that the suspension of the accountant-general would take immediate effect. He also directed that the Chief of Staff appoint an acting accountant-general pending the appointment of a new person to the office.

Okorocha said before now he had directed that the October and November salaries of workers in the state be paid at the same time in October.

He said he was dismayed that the directive was not carried out until he was informed at the 40th Anniversary ceremony of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Owerri on Friday.

“I had released the salaries of every worker in Imo State since the second week of October and so if Local Government workers are being owed, then somebody must take responsibility for it and will be dealt with according to law.

“This is a criminal act aimed at disgracing this government; what they do is that they take the money and put in the bank and collect the interest.”

(NAN)