The Anambra State Government has released a document showing the approval of N363.381m as the second tranche of salary arrears to workers, pensioners, and next of kin of the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency. This development comes amid an ongoing dispute between the state government and ex-Governor Peter Obi over unpaid workers' entitlements. The document was released on Friday and dated May 24, 2025.
The document was signed by the then Head of Service, Dame Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, and addressed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo. According to the document, the payment was part of the terms of settlement reached on February 6, 2024, concerning arrears owed to workers, pensioners, and next of kin of the defunct Water Corporation and ANSEPA. The second tranche was due for disbursement in 2026.
The Anambra State New Media Office highlighted the development in a post on X on Friday, captioned, "PART 3: EVIDENCE THAT LYING IS IN PETER OBI'S DNA." The post added that the Soludo administration paid the first tranche of State workers' entitlements, which Peter Obi left unpaid during his eight years as governor. The post also stated that Gov Soludo has now paid the second tranche.
The document sought approval for the release of N363,381,000 for the payment of the second tranche of salary arrears under an out-of-court settlement between the state government and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees. The payment would be processed through the State Government Payroll System via a dedicated account.
The latest disclosure comes days after Obi insisted that he left Anambra State without unpaid salaries, gratuities, or pensions. Speaking on Arise TV's Prime Time programme, Obi said, "On the day I left office, the government of Anambra State, which I headed, was not owing any salary, gratuity, or pension to those scheduled to be paid by the state government." He added that his administration did not owe any contractor or supplier who executed his job, certified and verified.
Obi also rejected claims that he borrowed money or issued bonds on behalf of Anambra State during his eight years as governor. He explained that some facilities attributed to his administration were concessionary multilateral support arranged through the Federal Government. Obi argued that undrawn funds under a facility should not be treated as debt incurred by his administration.
The dispute over the workers' arrears is part of a broader disagreement between Obi and the Soludo administration over the financial position of Anambra State when the former governor left office. The Anambra State Government has maintained that it inherited outstanding liabilities from previous administrations, including salary, pension, and gratuity arrears. The state government has specifically said salary arrears involving staff of the defunct Water Corporation were eventually settled under the Soludo administration.
Key points
- The Anambra State Government has released a document showing the approval of N363.381m as the second tranche of salary arrears to workers, pensioners, and next of kin of the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency.
- The document was released amid an ongoing dispute between the state government and ex-Governor Peter Obi over unpaid workers' entitlements.
- Obi has insisted that he left Anambra State without unpaid salaries, gratuities, or pensions, while the Soludo administration has maintained that it inherited outstanding liabilities from previous administrations.
