Anambra State Government has released official documents detailing N363.38 million in salary arrears owed to workers and pensioners of two defunct state agencies, a move that directly challenges former Governor Peter Obi’s assertion that he left the state without outstanding debt.
The records, shared on social media by Anambra State New Media, a platform affiliated with the state government, were presented as part of a response to Obi’s claims regarding the financial status of the state at the end of his eight-year administration. The documentation includes a memo dated May 22, 2025, signed by a former head of service, alongside a terms-of-settlement agreement between the state government and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
According to the memo, the state government has scheduled a second tranche of N363.381 million for payment in 2026 to settle outstanding salary arrears involving the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation (ANSWC) and the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA). The document explicitly states: “The second payment in the sum of Three Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand Naira only (₦363,381,000.00) will be made in 2026.”
The memo references Article 7 of the terms of settlement, noting that the payment is part of the government’s commitment to addressing the hardship faced by affected workers, staff, and next of kin of pensioners from the two agencies. The document proposes that the funds be processed through the state government payroll system using a dedicated account, listing a specific vote charge and indicating a balance of N500 million available for the release.
The Soludo administration maintains that this amount represents part of the salary arrears inherited from Obi’s tenure, asserting that the previous administration left the entitlements of these workers and pensioners unpaid. The government states that the first tranche of the settlement has already been paid, while the second payment was provided for under the agreement signed by the state government and AUPCTRE on February 6, 2024. However, the released documents do not independently establish when the underlying arrears were incurred or confirm whether they originated specifically during Obi’s time as governor.
This development follows a renewed dispute between Obi and the Anambra government, which began after State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, claimed that Obi left $123.77 million in debt when he handed over power. Mefor stated that these funds were obtained for projects covering malaria control, education, healthcare, erosion management, community development, and value-chain development. Obi continues to insist that his administration did not leave Anambra State burdened with debt.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
