The 30 Permanent Secretaries who were abruptly retired from the Abia State Civil Service on October 31, last year by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti are demanding the immediate payment of their retirement entitlements – gratuities, severance and furniture allowances by the State government.
The Permanent Secretaries who made the demand at a press conference at Abia Hotels Umuahia to commemorate one year of their forceful retirement from the Abia State Civil Service stated that they deserved their wages having given their lives and time in meritorious service to the State and her citizens.
Addressing the Press Conference on behalf of his colleagues, Barr. Nkwachukwu Agomuoh regretted that one year after they were abruptly retired, Governor Alex Chioma Otti was yet to fulfill his firm promise to then through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Kenneth Kalu of settling all their retirement benefits.
According to Barr. Agomuoh, the affected Permanent Secretaries to draw the attention of the government to their plight through the media since all efforts to reach out to the Governor and other relevant officers of the state proved abortive.
Also speaking, Chief Okechukwu Ihedioha said that the group believed Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as a promise keeping Governor would honour his promise to them and pay all that is due them.
Chief Ihedioha also appealed to the Governor to prevail on the Accountant -General of the State to without further delay pay their severance and furniture allowances which the Governor was said to have approved long ago.
They acknowledged the milestones recorded by Governor Alex Chioma Otti in governance of the State in the past 17 months in office, stressing that the goodwill of the Governor be extended to them considering the sudden way they left the Service.
The Permanent Secretaries noted that the non payment of their rightful retirement entitlements has adversely affected their families and is negatively impacting on the morale of serving Civil Servants who are witnesses to the unjust treatment being meted to their senior colleagues.
Peoplesmind
