SaharaReporters learned that following a political confrontation with his predecessor, Okowa boasted that once sworn into office as governor, he will review and eradicate some of the policies and actions of his predecessor, Mr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Civil servants employed into the Delta State civil service from 2013 till present by the immediate past administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan have vowed to struggle with the newly inaugurated Governor of the State, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa over victimisation and sack threats.
The affected workers were victimised by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa after his political relationship with the immediate past governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, soured.
SaharaReporters learned that following a political confrontation with his predecessor, Okowa boasted that once sworn into office as governor, he will review and eradicate some of the policies and actions of his predecessor, Mr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Making good on these boasts, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa circulated a letter on June 1st, 2015 with reference number GHA16 Vol. VI/154 that ordered the immediate suspension of the recent recruitment exercise carried out by the Uduaghan's administration in 2015 as well as investigating all employment exercise carried out by the same past administration from 2013 till date.
Deltans have described this as mere victimisation by governor Okowa. The Congress of Newly Employed Civil Servant, CNECS, Delta State Chapter has warned Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to withdraw the suspension placed on the recruitment exercise in the state. If their plea is not addressed within 72 hours they will take lawful steps against him.
The workers appealed to Okowa, ‘’We are Deltans, who passionately followed your campaign manifesto, tagged prosperity for all Deltans. We followed you, we campaigned for you, and we voted for you, we defended our votes and ensured it counted; we celebrated you and rejoice with you on your inauguration. We believed that the righteous had been enthroned but most ridiculously, your circular which is retroactive is poverty for all Deltans’.”
A strong worded communiqué was signed by three officials as well as Mr. Regha Obus and Mr. Agba Okeme, the chairman and secretary of CNECS respectively. The communiqué stated that punishing innocent, newly employed civil servants for a personal political war between the new governor and his predecessor is an unacceptable defiance of natural justice, equity, and good conscience.
The communiqué stated, ‘’Your Excellency, is this the prosperity you promised Delta state? We hope this is a dream and we are yet to wake up. Hence we passionately appeal to you to immediately withdraw that your order."
The body also warned Governor Okowa to look into the report of the Committee set up by Uduaghan and work for the good of Deltans. At the same time Okowa should work to prosecute the corruption allegations against the civil service commission within a reasonable time.
According to CNECS, "We have since resumed work at our various ministries, department, and agencies of assignment/deployment and a greater number of us have resigned their appointment in their former places of work to pick up the civil service job with the joy of serving their State.”