BY Taiwo George
Gabriel Suswam, the governor of Benue state, has denied embezzling the salaries of his workers, instead blaming the five-month payment delay on the federal government.
He said Benue was receiving poor budgetary allocations from the government at the centre and that a loan of N200 million would be needed in addition to the state allocation before salaries could be paid.
Suswam was speaking on Monday during the inauguration of the renovated Kwande local government education authority building in Kwande local government area of the state.
“I do not embezzle workers salaries. How can I embezzle your salaries after increasing it even when you did not ask for increment,” he said.
“What Benue receives monthly from the federation account is published in the national dailies by the federal government for clarification.
“I am not taking any kobo from workers salaries in the state. You are suffering and there is no way I will tamper with your monthly entitlements. Don’t forget that I implemented the 27 per cent salary increment demand by teachers.”
Explaining that the falling price of oil in the international market was responsible for the poor budgetary allocation, Suswam said that he was left with no option than to borrow to offset outstanding salaries.
The state government has not paid the salaries of teachers for five months and other workers are also being owed two to three months salaries.
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