Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has announced the disengagement of all public servants recruited towards the end of the tenure of the immediate-past Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
This is as Governor Otti described the last-minute employment exercise as “campaign recruitment.”
The State Government in a circular dated August 31, 2022, canceled the hurried recruitment.
According to the circular signed by the Head of Service, Lady Joy Maduka, those affected were all public servants recruited “from December 2022 till date.”
The circular obtained by Ikengaonline read: “Following the on-going reorganisation in the Abia State Public Service and in line with the provision of the Abia State Public Service Rules I write to advise you that His Excellency, Governor of Abia State has directed the disengagement of all staff employed into the Abia State Public Service from December. 2022 til date.
“However, any further directive(s) of His Excellency on this matter shall be communicated in due course. Please take steps to implement immediately and according to His Excellency’s directive.”
Shedding more light on the circular, Gov. Otti said the directive was a decision of the State Executive Council.
Otti who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Kazie Uko, said the past administration led by ex -Gov . Ikpeazu engaged in mass recruitment towards the end of his administration.
Otti who said that due process was thrown to the wind during the exercise, said it would be wrong to allow the anomaly to stand.
“That recruitment was campaign recruitment and we said we would not allow it. So, there is no way it can stand.”
He said the disengagement was not targeted at witch hunting anybody but was done to sanitise the system.
