RSG Not Broke -Semenitari …We’re Building Durable Roads

The Rivers State Government has dispelled rumours making the rounds that salaries of workers in the state were slashed due to lack of funds in the state coffers.

Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state, Mrs Ibim Semenitari debunked the rumours while briefing newsmen in her office in Port Harcourt, yesterday, saying that contrary to speculations, Rivers State Government was not broke, and salaries of workers were not slashed.

The commissioner said the state government was however, carrying out an ongoing investigation within the civil service to address inconsistency in the wage bills, which make some civil servants earn above or below their salary grade levels.

According to the commissioner, over N500 million had been saved from the exercise, which also affect the state-owned institutions of higher learning, operating on special scales.

She said the Head of Service, Barr Samuel LongJohn was in due consultations with the head of the tertiary institutions to streamline issues on salaries to check anomalies with the  system.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state Ministry of Finance was perfecting an e-payment policy that would kick off this month in which pay slips would be issued to workers to ascertain the actual number of workers on government payroll.

Commenting on the deductions of the compulsory social service levy, the commissioner said, the social service levy had not been deducted from the salary of workers for the past few months, but pointed out that the deductions will be carried out after due consultation with labour.

Semenitari also debunked claims that the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has left the Peoples Democratic Party, stating that Amaechi remains a member of PDP, and will continue to subscribe to the rules and regulations of the party”.

Mrs Semenitari further pointed out that the orders restraining the police from arresting the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree, and the Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha had not been vacated as all the  parties involved had chosen June13 for hearing on the matter.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment to providing quality and durable road projects in all parts of the state.

The state Commissioner for Works, Hon Victor Giadom stated this while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.

Hon Giadom said government was desirous of providing the people of the state the best in road constructions, including bridges and drainages, adding that all roads in D/Line axis of Port Harcourt were being given a face lift of international status with street lights, walk-ways and drainages.

According to him, reconstruction of all roads in Port Harcourt township had also been completed while that of Orashi-Orogbum was on going.

The commissioner disclosed that the six-lane Garrison-Amadi-East-West Road would soon commence in few days as efforts were being intensified to ensure that by September this  year, the Peter Odili-Abuloma-Woji Road would be completed and commissioned.

He said that government was having some difficulties in the payment of compensation to owners of building on the Iwofe- Rumuolumeni Road but assured that work on the road would have gone a long way by next dry season.

He disclosed that contract for the Rumuokwuta-NTA Road project had been re-awarded for durability “ because the road services the people of Rivers State and its neighbouring states”.