The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd) has confirmed the “release of Rivers State withheld allocations”, assuring residents of prompt payment of salaries, among other developmental projects.
He made this known on Friday while speaking with Heads of Local Government Administrators in Port Harcourt, according to Channels Television report.
The development is coming less than 24 hours after the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, had at a State House press briefing, backed the release of Rivers State allocation to the new administration following a state of emergency in the state.
When asked if the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the new administration in the state, the Minister had said it would be in order for the funds to be released to the new administration, if the administrator requests for it.
“And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things,” he said.
At the meeting with the local government administrators, Ibas was said to have expressed concern over delayed salary payments across the state, highlighting that the development has negatively impacted the state workforce.
“I feel the pain of the workers,” he added.
“You must take the lead in ensuring security within your domains,” he advised the local government administrators.
The inauguration of Ibas was held at the State House Abuja on Wednesday.
The president’s proclamation was later endorsed and ratified by the National Assembly.