Bayelsa govt explains why Dec salary delayed

The Bayelsa State Government has explained the delay in the payment of December salaries of some category of workers was caused by sudden garnishee  orders executed against the state accounts by contractors.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, explained in a statement made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, said contractors who worked under previous administrations executed the two orders against the state accounts after the Governor’s directive to pay workers salaries in the state had been effected.

Ebibai lamented that the unexpected court orders affected the salaries of workers of tertiary institutions, rural development areas and pensioners even though majority of the workers received their salaries as directed.

The Commissioner said that the Government did not discover the unfortunate development until workers resumed for work in the new year.

He said further that officials of the government were making serious efforts to ensure that the regrettable delay is addressed effectively.

His words: “The State Government paid salaries in December as directed by the Governor. However, after everybody had closed and the monies were sent to the banks, two garnishee orders were executed against the state accounts arising from debts owed contractors who did jobs for previous government.

“The contractors went to court and got judgment for the remainder of their money. Government did not know until worked resumed in January when the discovery was made.

“Government regrets this unfortunate development. The arrangement was disrupted by the unexpected garnishee orders. Since worked resumed, officials of the government are working to ensure that this is corrected”, he stated.