Akwa Ibom state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel.
Abasifreke Effiong – Uyo
Political appointees in Akwa Ibom state will receive 20 percent less of their monthly salaries going forward, until crude oil prices improve again.
Secretary to the state government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, announced the 20 percent salary cut in a press release on Tuesday 19th May.
Ekuwem said the decision was in response to the crash of crude oil prices in the global market.
Nigeria’s Brent crude sold for $34.82 over the weekend, representing more than 7.2 percent increase in the last one month.
The Akwa Ibom state government recently reviewed her 2020 budget, making significant reduction in recurrent expenditure and overhead.
The release states the government is taking steps to navigate the state out of the economic downtown, adding that the salary cut would be reviewed once funds improve.
“In response to the prevailing economic realities of dwindling revenues, caused by the crash in the price of crude oil in the global market, Governor Udom Emmanuel, has painfully directed, the slashing of salaries of all political office holders by 20%.”
“The Governor was confronted with an urgent need to take decision on either of two painful options: continue to pay the current salaries for a while and end up being totally unable to pay same subsequently or spread the discomfort (20% cut) sustainably over a period of time pending the return of crude oil price to normalcy in the global market.”
The salary cut is temporary, the release emphasized.
