Breaking: Nigerian Governor Sacks 6 Civil Servants, Gives Reason
- Abia state government under the watch of Governor Alex Otti has sacked six senior civil servants over the allegation of fraud
- Eno Eze, the chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, announced the development in a statement following the report of an investigative committee
- According to the government, the commission suspected that members of the salary committee were complicit in perpetrating the fraud
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Governor Alex Otti of Abia's administration has sacked six senior officers from the Ministry of Justice, following an administrative inquiry and internal audits, which found them guilty of manipulating the payroll systems to receive more than their salaries.
Eno Eze, the chairman of the Abia State Civil Service Commission, listed the positions of the affected civil servants as follows: A Senior Accountant (SGL 10), Senior Executive Officer (General Duties – SGL 09), Principal Accountant (SGL 12), Principal Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 12), Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 14), Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – SGL 13).
Source: Twitter
Abia government takes disciplinary action
According to the government, the disciplinary action taken against them came after a detailed investigation by the state civil service commission, which reviewed their financial records independently and the officers were interrogated before the final decision.
Channels TV reported that Eze explained that they were aware of benefiting from "irregular salary payments to the detriment of the state”.
The government also noted that someone who was initially investigated, identified as Chioma Favour Madu, has been cleared of the allegation. This was because she had earlier reported the overpayment and also made efforts to correct the error.
Abia investigates civil servants
The investigative committee expressed suspicion about the chances of some salary committee members being complicit in the fraudulent scheme
The statement further explained that Governor Otti has directed that the committee's activities should be subjected to private investigation, so that full accountability can be ascertained.
According to Eze, the senior officials who were formally indicted in the scandal would be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for further legal actions.
Source: Facebook
Why Abia sacked civil servants
He noted that the sacking was a representation of Governor Otti's commitment to transparency and intolerance for corruption in the public service.
The civil servants in the state were then urged to report any suspicious irregularities through the appropriate channels.
Governor Otti is the only governor elected on the platform of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.
He has been rumoured to be planning to leave the party following his alliance with President Bola Tinubu, the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2027 general election.
Police arrest Abia lawmaker
Legit.ng earlier reported that the police allegedly arrested the lawmaker representing the Ohafia South State constituency in the Abia state House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke.
Eyewitnesses reported that the security forces assaulted the lawmaker, and his phone was destroyed before he was taken to an unknown destination.
A Labour Party chieftain who spoke on the condition of anonymity alleged that the deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, and the lawmaker had been at loggerheads on the council's candidates.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
