Anambra Govt releases fresh evidence of unpaid salaries under Peter Obi

The Anambra State Government has released a 2024 out-of-court settlement document amid its dispute with Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over unpaid salaries and financial obligations left behind by his administration.

The Anambra government made the fresh release in a post on its official X account on Wednesday, describing it as evidence that contradicted Obi’s position.

According to the state government, the document titled, “Terms of Settlement,” was signed on February 6, 2024, between the Anambra State Government and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, over issues involving the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency, ANSEPA.

While sharing the document as evidence against Obi, the government accused the former governor of lying in his earlier claim that he left office without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or other financial obligations.

The Anambra government made the fresh release in a post on its official X account on Wednesday, describing it as evidence that contradicted Obi’s position.

According to the state government, the document titled, “Terms of Settlement,” was signed on February 6, 2024, between the Anambra State Government and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, over issues involving the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency, ANSEPA.

While sharing the document as evidence against Obi, the government accused the former governor of lying in his earlier claim that he left office without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or other financial obligations.

“The Water Corporation Arrears — The Evidence: Peter Obi Lied. 14 years later, Soludo entered an out-of-court settlement with the Water Corporation over salaries Obi refused to pay for 8 years. Soludo is now clearing the backlog. Obi knows; we know he lied,” the government wrote.

The latest disclosure came amid a political disagreement between the Anambra government and Obi over his record as governor.

Recall that the state government had previously challenged Obi over his claim that he left Anambra without debt or unpaid obligations.

In its earlier statement, it referred to Obi’s reported pledge to withdraw from the presidential race if anyone could establish that he left the state in debt.

Meanwhile, Obi has rejected the allegations and maintained that his administration inherited substantial arrears from previous governments and worked to clear them.

“We systematically liquidated historical gratuities and arrears dating back several years, amounting to over N35 billion,” Obi said.