Governor Charles Soludo has inaugurated a state-local government joint accounts committee, disclosing that Anambra is heavily indebted to pensioners.

Mr Soludo revealed that the state owed over N14 billion in arrears for gratuities and pensions, which his administration had started paying.

Christian Aburime, press secretary to the governor, said the inauguration was done shortly after the state’s executive council meeting at the Government House in Awka.

The committee is chaired by TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, the commissioner for local government, with Ifeatu Onejeme, commissioner for finance and Arinze Nwankwo-Ikwueto, as vice-chairman and secretary, respectively.

Mr Soludo said their job would not be easy as it came at a time when the state’s resources were lean.

“Resources are not there. You are being called upon to do this work at a time when there are challenges in the finances of the country, the state and local governments, and you have been called upon to find the solution,” he said.

Mr Soludo said his administration would set up a local government administration to address the challenges in the third tier of the government.

“For us, we have a vision to have responsibility devolved to base and to have a local government that is empowered to deliver development to the grassroots,” said Mr Soludo. “Consequently, the finances that are very limited will have to be run in a different way; we have a peculiar local government system where the staff and other obligations of the local government are pulled together.” 

(NAN)