Civil servants in Abia State who did not participate in the government’s verification exercise would no longer receive their salaries begining from November this year.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while
briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu stated that with the extension of the verification exercise by two weeks, it is expected that all State workers should have completed the verification process by now.
He however noted that in line with the current administration’s commitment to humanize it’s activities, the state government has extended a window of opportunity for unverified civil servants to engage in the verification exercise, despite its conclusion.
He directed genuine civil servants who have not been verified to interface with heads of their various MDAS as to be verified.
“Although the verification excercise has officially come to an end, those who are affected have the opportunity to go back to their ministries or MDAs to interface with their heads of Ministries to know why they have not been verified”,Kanu said.
The Information Commissioner also disclosed that the state government in its determination to put in place a responsive machinery, would soon launch a Whistle Blower Policy in the state.
According to the Commissioner, the launch of the whistle blower policy would mark a significant milestone in Governor Otti’s bid to do things differently in the new Abia.
Prince Kanu further revealed that the newly appointed Mayors for the 17 LGAS, haven undergone screening and cleared by the state House of Assembly would be sworn in on Thursday this week, at the Micheal Okpara Auditorium.
On Education, Prince Kanu emphasized that the state government is carrying out reforms and setting standards in the sector to ensure that schools operating in the state meet up with all required standard.
He said that the 197 private schools recently shut down by government for failure to meet up required operational standard may be reopened if they can meet up with the government’s guidelines.
Prince Kanu listed quality of teachers, environmental concerns, and the substandard nature of the schools as reasons for the government’s earlier shutdown of the schools.
Also speaking on the swearing in of LGA Mayors,the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu expressed optimism that on increased grassroots development, emphasizing that funds meant for the Local Councils would be used to work for the people.
In her contribution,the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr Betty Emeka-Obasi noted that although the verification excercise started in July this year, alot of workers were yet to be verified.
She said the names of the unverified staff have been put up in the MDAs,Parastatals, tertiary institutions and pensions board and added that they are expected to submit their documents to the heads of their various establishments who would in turn hand over same to the state verification committee.
“We have a two weeks window open because this is a government with a human face. We have decided to make open the verification till the end of the year“,Dr Emeka-Obasi stated.
