The Abia State Government has debunked a media report alleging that it plans to sack workers.
Governor Alex Otti debunked the report during a media chat in Umuahia on Friday, stating that he has no plan to sack any worker in the state.
Instead, Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing Abia State’s civil service for optimal performance and productivity.
The governor noted that a timely payment of salaries has already contributed to greater efficiency in the state.
“I don’t know where that is coming from. There is nothing like mass retrenchment. We have not even thought about it. There’s nothing in the pipeline,” he said.
“Like I said, we don’t have any such plans. We will continue to ensure that our civil service is enhanced and productivity goes up, particularly now that before the end of every month they (civil servants) get paid, so there is no excuse for truancy anymore.”
Otti attributed the fear of retrenchment among workers to guilt stemming which arises from poor work habits.
He also issued a stern warning to civil servants accustomed to absenteeism that truancy would no longer be tolerated by his administration.
“People who were used to not going to work, we told them to know that our administration does not tolerate truancy and so if they are afraid, maybe, they are guilty. There’s no mass retrenchment in the pipeline.”
Otti further expressed his satisfaction that a number of those affected have been re-engaged.
“As a person, I believe that people should not be judged or should not be treated fairly or unfairly based on where they come from.
“That is why in our administration, there are people who do not come from this state that have been given appointments.
“The reason is simple; once you live in Abia, you are from Abia, that is our own principle. You live here, you pay your tax here, you are involved in everything that we are doing, then we must treat you as part of us. This is a government that does not discriminate.
“As a policy, I treat people equally, even if you’re from the North and you live here. It is on that basis that I say anybody who was disengaged because of where they come from, we are looking at their cases.
“As we speak, we are looking at those few cases, they‘re not much. There is not much we can do about those who are not here with us (deceased) but those with us, we will look at their cases positively.”
