Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has slashed by half his salary and travelling allowances by 50 per cent, saying this would remain the case until the salaries and allowances owed workers in the state were cleared.

Ikpeazu announced the measure this morning at the Government House, Umuahia, while swearing-in the new Head of Service (HOS) for the state, Dr. Vivian Uma.

The governor said his heart is burdened with great pain by his administration’s inability to pay salaries of workers as at when due and promised to do everything possible to ensure that salaries and allowances of workers in the state would be systematically cleared.

He called on other appointees who can to follow his example, stressed the need to cut down the cost of governance.

The governor congratulated the new Head of Service on his appointment, which he described as a milestone, pointing out that the appointment was part of his government’s desire to reinvigorate the civil service.

He charged the new Head of Service to look for innovative ways of doing things especially in terms of shoring up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

Ikpeazu enjoined civil servants in the state to be more proactive in bracing up for the challenges ahead.

In his acceptance speech, the new Head of Service promised to bring positive transformations to the Abia civil service, stressing that he would strive to enthrone discipline and sound ethical conduct into the service for greater service delivery.

He thanked the Governor for appointing him and promised to be loyal and supportive to his administration.

Until his appointment, Uma was the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Common Services in the office of the outgone Head of Service

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu (left) congratulating Dr. Uma after his swearing-in as Head of Service . . . this morning at the Government House, Umuahia.