“It’s a sin to owe workers in this recession” – Obiano tells fellow Governors

Governor Obiano, who expressed fear that the dollar would continue to rise against the naira, predicted that it would take no fewer than 18 months for the economic downturn in the country to subside.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has affirmed that it is totally wrong and callous for any government to owe its worker’s salaries, especially now that Nigeria is in recession.

Obiano made this remark during the commencement of the Anambra State Fire and Safety Summit in Awka on Wednesday.

He said, “A state that does not pay its workers is inviting calamity. Payment of workers’ salaries energises the economy.

“We saw this recession early and made agriculture one of the pillars of our administration. This is why we have been paying our workers. It is wicked to owe workers at a time like this.

 “People should embrace risk management. That is the solution to disaster, especially in a recession.

“No recession lasts less than 18 months, so we need to wake up. The naira is moving to N500 per dollar.

“We need to secure our certificates and other valuables of ours so that nothing will happen to them overnight. That’s the way to survive in a recession.”

The governor, however, observed that the people of the South-East geopolitical zone had not been paying attention to insurance. 

“My expectation is that our people will be better informed about disaster and its management after listening to the various speakers at this summit,” Obiano said.