The Abia State government has announced that civil servants who did not undergo the recent verification exercise will face salary suspensions, effective November 2023.
The decision was communicated by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, during a press briefing held on Monday in Umuahia, following the executive council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu emphasized that the two-week extension provided by the state government for the verification process should have allowed all concerned civil servants to complete the necessary procedures.
For those who failed to undergo verification, Kanu advised them to approach the heads of their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to understand the reasons behind their non-verification.
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In addition to the civil service update, Kanu disclosed that the 197 private schools recently closed in the State might have the opportunity to reopen, subject to their compliance with the government’s guidelines and standards.
He highlighted that these private schools were closed due to substandard conditions and inadequate teaching staff.
Moreover, the Commissioner revealed that the state government is gearing up to launch a whistleblower policy.
This policy is expected to encourage citizens to report any irregularities or misconduct within the public sector.
Supporting this announcement, Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Abia State Governor, Betty Emeka-Obasi, informed the public that the names of unverified workers have been posted, urging them to promptly approach the heads of their MDAs to resolve the issue and avoid salary disruptions.
The state government’s measures underscore its commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability in both the public service and private education sectors.