Delta state government says it has adopted interim fiscal measures to overcome the debilitating effects of the COVID-19, a development that will sustain public spending.
Secretary to the state government chiedu ebie who made this disclosure while briefing journalists at the conference room of the state head of service said part of the measures would include a review of salary of political appointees and workers on salary grade level seven and above.
Chiedu ebie said considering the effect of the covid-19 on the economy, the salary review which will last over a period of six months with effect from the month of july, though painful was inevitable
According to the ssg, the downward review of the 2020 budget by 113 billion naira was as a result of the dwindling revenue caused by the covid-19
In their seperate speeches, commissioner for finance fidelis tilije and his information counterpart charles aniagwu said as it is, the monthly saving of the state government cannot offset its monthly wage bill of 7.7 billion naira with a workforce òf 48.000.
State chairman trade union congress comrade martins bolum on behalf of workers recalled that delta was first to implement the new minimum wage and that the review was for a period of time while the head of service, reginald bayoko appealed to workers to see the development as sacrifice and to accept it in good fate
Editor: Ena agbanoma