The political standoff between the Anambra State Government and former governor Peter Obi has escalated following the release of an official document approving ₦363.38 million for unpaid worker entitlements.
The document, released by the state government on Friday, September 25, 2026, details the disbursement of the second tranche of salary arrears owed to former staff, pensioners, and next-of-kin of the defunct Anambra State Water Corporation and the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA).
Memo reveals ₦363m payout under out-of-court settlement
Signed by the former Head of Service, Dame Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, and addressed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the internal memo (dated May 24, 2025) sought authorization to release ₦363,381,000.
Key details from the released document include:
Legal settlement: The payment stems from a formal out-of-court settlement executed on February 6, 2024, between the state government and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees.
Target beneficiaries: Funds were designated for historical salary arrears, pensions, and death benefits belonging to workers of ANSEPA and the state’s defunct Water Corporation.
Disbursement channel: The Head of Service confirmed that the second tranche was scheduled for disbursement in 2026 via a dedicated state payroll account to honor the union agreement.
Publishing the memo on social media, the Anambra State New Media Office accused Obi of misrepresenting his financial record, asserting that Governor Soludo was forced to settle liabilities left behind after Obi’s eight-year tenure.
Obi rejects claims, cites DMO data and multilateral support
The latest disclosure comes shortly after Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), reiterated during a national television appearance that he left office in March 2014 without owing civil servants or verified contractors.
Responding to allegations regarding ₦127.4 billion ($92.35 million) in outstanding external debt, Obi clarified his administration’s financial stance:
Concessionary multilateral facilities: Obi explained that the multilateral agreements referenced by the current administration were Federal Government-negotiated development support programs (such as World Bank and IFAD initiatives) rather than commercial bank loans or bonds.
Disputed figures: Citing Debt Management Office (DMO) records, Obi noted that Anambra’s external debt stood at approximately $30 million when he handed over in March 2014, making the $123.77 million figure claimed by the state government mathematically inconsistent.
No commercial debt: Obi maintained that his government did not borrow from commercial banks or issue state bonds during his two terms in office.
While the newly released document proves the Soludo administration approved and disbursed funds to resolve labour claims in 2024 and 2026, it does not explicitly clarify the exact years during which the original arrears accumulated.
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