N13.2 debt: Workers stay home as Abia community locks up National Library for three months

The National Library of Nigeria, Abia State branch has remained closed for three months, following the sealing of its temporary office in Ohokobe Mbaocha Hall, Umuahia North LGA of the State.

The situation, according to the Director of the branch, Mr. Enang Ikpi Efoli , is because of the inability of successive administrations in Abia State to pay accumulated debt owed the Ohokobe Mbaocha community which now stands at N13.2 Million.

Consequently, all staff of the the National Library working in the office have been at home redundantly as the community insists that the complex would only be unsealed when the debt is cleared.

Explaining the situation to DAILY POST, the Director of National Library of Nigeria, Abia State branch, Mr Enang Ikpi Efoli said that the previous administration of former Governor Theodore Orji rented the office for the Library at N1.2 Million per anum with a further arrangement to provide a land where the Federal government would build a permanent site in the State.

According to to him, administration of Ex-Governor Orji paid N6 Million covering five years rent , leaving one year arrears.

He regretted that Orji’s successor, Okezie Ikpeazu allegedly refused to pay a dime to the Ohokobe Mbaocha community, making the debt to increase.

He added that the management team of the Library in Abia has also approached concerned authorities in the current administration of Governor Alex Otti to help in defraying the debt to enable the staff return back to work, saying that their appeals have not yielded anything.

Mr. Efoli who said that judiciary staff, information scientists , Lawyers, University lecturers, international researchers, are being denied the opportunity of accessing important documents in the Library, threatened that the Library may relocate to another State where their service is are better appreciated.

Confirming the development to Journalists ,the Chairman of Ohokobe Mbaocha community in Umuahia North LGA, Mr Nduka Awomukwu said his community still maintained cordial relationship with the Library but would only reopen the place unless the large debt is payed.

He also said that his community would also take the National Library of Nigeria to the Court to recover their ‘trapped’ money from the Federal agency.

When the matter was brought to the attention of Goveernor Alex Otti at Government House during his monthly media chat with Journalists in September, he said he was not aware of the situation but directed the concerned authorities to immediately look into it and get back to him.

However, when DAILY POST visited the Ohokobe Mbaocha community Hall housing the National Library of Nigeria on Tuesday at 2:pm: , the place was still sealed by the host community.