Again! Abia State Governor Alex Otti Called Out for Non-Payment of Wages and Salary Cuts(Document) | #NwokeukwuMascot

 Opinion 

Governor Otti Criticized for Non-payment and Salary Cuts | #NwokeukwuMascot

 Dr Alex Chioma Otti 

In a recent development, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has come under fire following the release of a list containing 320 employees of the Ministry of Education who have not been paid for over a year. These workers, classified as "ghost workers" by the current administration, continue to face significant financial hardships despite reporting for duty regularly.

Agu Ibeku, a renowned journalist: human rights activist and advocate for good governance, voiced his concerns regarding the plight of these civil servants. In a statement, Ibeku highlighted the ongoing struggles of these employees who have been unfairly labeled as non-existent by the Otti administration.

In a poignant post on his Facebook page, @Sheikh Lucida Bin Norman captioned "Travails of civil servants under Otti,” Agu Ibeku revealed the names of 320 Ministry of Education workers who were classified as 'ghost workers' by Governor Alex Otti's administration. Despite continuing to perform their duties, these workers have not received their salaries under the current government.

“The list below contains 320 Ministry of Education workers who were classified as 'ghost workers' by Governor Alex Otti's government. Though these workers still come to work and carry out their civil duties, the Otti-led government has refused to pay them. To date, they frequent the office of the AG in futility to rectify the so-called verification machine oversight. If 320 workers from a ministry are disenfranchised from receiving salaries, it tells you the fate of Abia workers and the number of workers who receive salaries every month."

The governor's administration is also accused of unjust salary deductions ranging from N4,000 to N80,000 per month, depending on the employee's grade level, with some doctors reportedly losing as much as N200,000. The government has remained silent on these allegations, leaving affected workers frustrated and without answers.

He continued,  "Aside from this, the Otti-led government continues to deduct monies, ranging from N4k to N80k from workers' monthly salaries (depending on the levels) without clarifications. Some doctors had as much as N200k slashed from their salaries with the government reticent over this depravity. But daily we read long-winded and insensitive posts from individuals praising Otti for improving the lives of Abia workers. As I have always said, everyone who contributed to the underdevelopment of Abia and the impoverishment of its citizens will not go unpunished in Jesus' name. Amen!"

The activist further criticized the leadership of the Abia State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for their ineffective representation of the workers' interests. He pointed out that the NLC's agreement with the state government for a paltry N15,000 three-month wage award, despite the federal government's provision of N35,000, was a betrayal of the workers' trust.

"Abia State NLC leaders are deadwood and should be ashamed of themselves for failing the workers. Reaching an agreement with the state government for an N15k three-month wage award on behalf of the workers, despite the FG making a provision of N35k is disgraceful. Posterity will remember all of us and I pray it will never be kind to those who subjected our people to slavery in the guise of leadership. Iseeeee! The worst of human beings are those who take advantage of the less privileged and the gullible. It does not matter how we try to paint it, Otti's government is a scam. It's a sad reminder of the failed Buhari government."

As these issues continue to unfold, the affected employees remain hopeful for a resolution that will see them receiving their rightful salaries and end the unjust deductions from their pay. The call for accountability and transparency in Governor Otti's administration grows louder, with many citizens and activists demanding immediate action to address the grievances of the Ministry of Education workers and all civil servants in Abia State.