THERE is an uneasy calm between the executive and legislative arms of government in Benue State over alleged non-payment of salaries to some workers, including members of the House of Assembly.

The assembly, on Wednesday, summoned the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Omadachi Oklo-bia, to appear before it next Wednesday and explain the non-payment of four months salary arrears to the lawmakers and some civil servants.

But in a statement, on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Conrad Wegba, said the summons by the lawmakers was aimed at blackmailing the government.

“It is worrisome that this kind of  arm-twisting is fast becoming the hallmark of the seventh assembly, which often resorts to this tactics for pecuniary motives,” Wegba said.

According to him, the delay in the payment of the salaries could be partly attributed to the use of biometric data which, he said, was being upgraded and perfected.

“However, those affected have always been taken care of through supplementary vouchers which adequately capture them. Incidentally, only four out of the 30 members of the Benue State House of Assembly who failed to present themselves for the biometric data initially fell into this category.

“For emphasis, these members were the Majority Whip, Hon. Christopher Afaor; the Minority Whip, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange; Hon. Benjamin Adanyi and Hon. Anthony Sende, who have since been paid through supplementary vouchers,” he said.

Wegba called on the lawmakers to refrain from comments capable of portraying the administration of Governor Gabriel Suswam in a negative light, adding: “It is unfortunate that the reports were attributed to the Benue State House of Assembly which is an essential and integral part of government.”

Meanwhile, the commissioner reiterated the state government’s labour-friendly posture over the years, saying that Benue was one of the few states in the country to commence the payment of the minimum wage in spite of serious financial challenges.

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