Governor Otti Allays Fears of mass retrenchment in Abia State

Published

Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 08:49 PM

Written by Omotola Adeleke

Governor Otti Allays Fears of mass retrenchment in Abia State

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has announced that his administration has no intentions of terminating the employment of civil servants in the state.


Otti gave the assurance during his monthly media briefing at the Government House in Umuahia on Friday, titled "Alex Otti Speaks to Abians."


He mentioned that the administration is rather committed to regularly paying workers salaries, emphasizing his commitment towards enhancing the state civil service to boost efficiency and effectiveness


The Governor said, “I don’t know where that is coming from. Mass layoffs are not on our agenda. We haven't even considered it, and there are no plans for such actions."


"As I mentioned, we have no plans for such actions. We will continue to focus on improving our civil service and increasing productivity. With regular monthly pay for civil servants, there should be no excuses for absenteeism moving forward."


The governor attributed the fear of worker layoffs to a sense of guilt arising from poor work habits.


He therefore, cautioned civil servants who are used to absenteeism that such behavior will no longer be accepted under the current administration.


He added, “We’ve made it clear to those who were accustomed to skipping work that our administration does not tolerate absenteeism. If they are feeling anxious, it may be due to their own sense of guilt. There are no plans for mass layoffs.”


Discussing the matter of workers previously dismissed from the state civil service due to non-indigeneship under former administrations, Otti expressed his approval that many of those affected be reinstated.


He also noted that his administration is actively reviewing the cases of the remaining dismissed workers, with the goal of reintegrating them into the state workforce.


The governor reaffirmed his dedication to a fair and inclusive government, emphasizing that all individuals who contribute to the state, regardless of their place of origin, will be treated equally.


He continued, “I firmly believe that individuals should not be judged or treated differently based on their place of origin. That’s why, in our administration, we have appointed people from outside the state.”


“The reason is straightforward: if you live in Abia, you are considered part of Abia. Our principle is that if you reside here, pay taxes here, and contribute to our community, you should be treated as one of us. This administration is committed to non-discrimination.”


“As a matter of policy, I ensure that everyone is treated equally, regardless of whether they are from the North or elsewhere. This is why we are reviewing the cases of those who were dismissed due to their place of origin.


“Currently, we are examining these few cases, there aren’t many. While we cannot address the situation for those who are no longer with us, we are committed to considering the cases of those who are still here in a positive light.”


Also Read: Abia Gov's Wife Pays N3M In Hospital Bills For Patients


Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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