The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed a report on Wednesday with the headline, ‘33 States Can’t Pay Salaries’ and attributed to BudgIT – a data sampling civic organisation.

In a statement issued in Uyo late yesterday, Ekerete Udoh, Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, said: “Ordinarily, we would have dismissed the report and analysis as representing the immortal words of ex-President of the United States, George H. Bush, who in describing the economic policy as enunciated by his then opponent for the nomination as the Republican Party Presidential Candidate in 1980, Ronald Reagan, had dismissed the whole plan as ‘Voodoo Economics’.

“There is no doubt that the conclusions reached by BudgIT, is nothing but voodoo analysis or how else would any rational and intellectually astute organisation place Akwa Ibom State last on the table of inability to meet monthly recurrent expenditure commitments.

“It bears repeating here that, Akwa Ibom State is one of the few states where workers are paid regularly and on time. Governor Udom Emmanuel has stated in so many fora and platforms that he cannot sleep and will not sleep well, if workers are owed salaries. He has not only paid their salaries, but has gone ahead to pay their 2016 leave allowances, as well as their pensions.”

The statement said in spite of the challenging economic times, the Governor is embarking on many life touching projects that align with his campaign promises to alleviate poverty and ensure wealth creation.

It described as spurious and curious “for an organisation that may pass itself off, as a credible organisation to come up with such a flawed analysis. No wonder the famed CEO of Financial Derivatives Limited, Bismarck Rewane dismissed the analysis, stating that he has doubts about this report while maintaining that the report is inaccurate.

“Governor Udom Emmanuel is working hard to fulfil his campaign promises and he will not be distracted by reports that are not based on facts.”