The Abia State Government has announced plans to pay salary arrears owed to workers in the state civil service in tranches. The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, made this known during a press conference in Umuahia on Tuesday.

Akpara expressed the administration's determination to change the narrative of owing workers salaries, stating that "a worker deserves his wages."

He revealed that the government inherited a debt of N16.5 billion in salary arrears owed to workers in state-owned institutions of learning.

The government has set up machinery to ensure that salary arrears become a thing of the past. Payments will be made in installments to avoid hampering the progress of other sectors of the economy.

The commissioner said the government would commence payment by July or August, with the hope of completing payments by the end of the year.

The state-owned institutions affected include Abia State University (ABSU), College of Education Arochukwu, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, and Abia State University Teaching Hospital. The government has already paid the salary arrears for April and May owed to workers in ABSU.

Akpara urged the people to support the policies and programmes of the government, stating that the present administration has not applied for any loan facility since assuming office and has been managing its finances well enough to fulfill its obligations on time.