By Oscar Kambona
Staff unions at Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu (ASCETA) have expressed appreciation to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for paying the workers three months salary arrears.
The unions noted that by that action, Ikpeazu had confirmed that he was still a caring father to all the staff in the employment of Abia State government.
In a joint statement in Arochukwu signed by the chairman of COESU, Comrade Kelvin Egesi, and chairman of Senior Staff Union of college of education, Comrade Frank Agoha, the unions also commended the provost of ASCETA, Dr Phillips Nto, for his transparency and accountability in paying the salaries as soon as he received same.
The unions recalled that the provost, a former finance commissioner in the state, had assured them of the commitment of the governor to clear the arrears thus engendering hope in them.
According to them, by paying them three months at a ago, the governor made them to celebrate a memorable Christmas and New Year.
They stated that it was a thing of joy that Ikpeazu was rescuing the parastatals at a time that the entire system was suffering the worst form of economic inactivity.
They praised the provost for his faith in the Governor and for his tenacity in the management of the institution despite the economic challenges.
While commending Nto for the infrastructural transformation he has brought in the college, they said that the gradual clearance of the salary arrears would certainly lift the morale of the staff.
They assured the governor and the provost of their readiness to work assiduously to return ASCETA to its premiership position in education.
They urged all staff in the college to reciprocate the gesture of the state government by taking their work more seriously.