The new governor said that all civil servants and retirees in the state shall, from May, 2023, earn their legitimate entitlements as and when due.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said that his government will begin the payment of May 2023 salaries and pensions to all civil servants and retirees in the state within the next few days without further delay.
Otti, who said this in his inaugural speech on Monday expressed dissatisfaction with the differences between the so-called “core” and “non-core” civil servants, saying that from June 2023, all salary and pension obligations of the state would be settled by the 28th of every month.
The new governor said that all civil servants and retirees in the state shall, from May, 2023, earn their legitimate entitlements as and when due.
While revealing plans by his administration to reform the civil service in the state, Otti said that he would prioritise the workforce for efficiency and professionalism in the state, noting that the Abia State Civil Service shall run differently under his administration.
He explained that as part of measures to unmask ghost workers in the civil service, the state government will embrace technology, which according to him, is to “Determine those who had been genuinely employed and those who are actively stealing from the public treasury.”
He said, “Merit shall take prominence and only those who demonstrate requisite diligence in the discharge of their duties shall remain in the service. Technology will be used to support the Civil Service in the State.
“We propose to use technology to enable all Abia State employees, including myself, to work from anywhere to achieve operational efficiency and enhanced productivity.
“There shall be no room for corrupt practices and the full weight of the law shall be deployed in tackling all cases of indiscipline or any act that brings the service into disrepute.
“We shall be reviewing some of the most recent appointments and promotions made by the previous administration to ensure that persons recruited and promoted have the relevant qualifications and are suitably deployed.”