Ebonyi Govt. didn't mortgage workers salaries

Ebonyi Govt. didn't mortgage workers salaries

Ebonyi state government yesterday debunked allegations that it has mortgaged the salaries of civil servants in the state for an agric loan from the Central Bank.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr Uchenna Orji stated this yesterday in Abakaliki.

According to him, the one hectre per worker policy of the state government attracted the attention of the apex bank which agreed to partner with government by making certain facilities available to all interested farmers in the state.

Under the scheme anybody who is interested in taking up farming will be given N170,000 worth of farming support.

The Commissioner said at harvest time government will receive the crop equivalent of the money.

On the demand for BVN number on the application form Mr Orji said it is to forestall people from collecting multiple times.

His words, "Nobody is deducting any money from their salary".

"Government have encouraged all those who are willing to participate to open a separate account from their business or salary account".

"So that if you are participating in the programme your money will not be deducted whatsoever".

"You will access this money in cash and in kind to enable you go into crop production and at the end after harvesting government will buy back and take the monetary equivalent of what government have invested in your farm based on the one hectre".

"The excess is yours but government can still buy back that excess at the prevailing market price. And give you the money if you want or you can keep it. No money will be deducted from your salary".

"BVN collection is nothing fraudulent, BVN belongs to you nobody can collect it. Its like your phone number. The essence is to ensure that no one will collect more than once".