₦airaland Forum

National President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) Ambali Akeem Olatunji, has berated Abia governor, Alex Otti, for allegedly meddling in the affairs of NULGE in the State.

The NULGE President who expressed the union’s displeasure over Otti’s recent imposition of his stooges as the executives of the union in the state, maintained that there was no leadership crisis in the state chapter of the union before Otti was elected.

Speaking in Akure, during the inauguration of a new NULGE President in the Ondo, Comrade Fredrick Akinrinlola, the National President described Otti’s action as “executive recklessness”, accusing the Abia governor of imposing his cronies on the union to take over the leadership of NULGE in Abia.

The NULGE National President alleged the governor decided to impose his stooges at the NULGE helms of affairs in order to control the union, but said the union will resist the move.

He said some Chief Executive at the state level always want to impose candidates that are very weak, that would be controllable by them, and will not represent the interest of the union and would not be able to engage the Government.

“We have one recently in Abia, we have conducted an election before the new government came in, the new government came in and was trying to destabilise the union, this is a contradiction to the labour movement, the administration has come out to be a disappointment to the labour.

“NULGE is cautioning the governor of Abia, Alex Otti, for his undue meddlesome into the affairs of NULGE and attempt to hijack the leadership of the union and we reject this that he has no right to annul our election and impose his brothers and cronies to take over the leadership of the union.

“We were disappointed that after the conduct of our election before the inauguration of the present administration in Abia state of Governor Otti of Labour Party, he (Otti) assumed office and the first thing he did was to go after industrial union and made attempt to seize the leadership of the NURTW which was rebuffed by the NLC,” the statement partly read.

Abia State Government says it has commenced the payment of compensation to owners of the 130 structures marked for demolition to make way for the six-lane 3.5 kilometres Ossah-Okpara Square Road in Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

This is contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the government was yet to make available funds for the exercise.

The Accountant General of the state, Njum Onyemenam, who disclosed this to Journalists in her office on Thursday said that claimants who provided their correct account details have already received payments.

"We have gotten confirmations that claimants have already started receiving their monies, that is the position right now.

"Claimants who have provided us with their current bank details have recieved their payments," [/b]Onyemenam said.

She advised claimants who have accounts with the old Diamond Bank and may not have received their monies to get alternative Access Bank account numbers to enable them receive payments.

[b]"Those that are banking with the old Diamond Bank account should meet their banks to collect the alternate Access account bank number as the old Diamond Bank is not compliant with our payment platform," the AG stated.

She however noted that many claimants have not provided their data, and revealed that as soon as they come up with their correct details, they will be paid.

Onyemenam added that her office is still collating data of all claimants and would finish payments when the details of the last claimant are collated.

The Accountant General pointed out that the government wants to avoid a situation where monies are paid to the wrong persons, who may not remit same to other affected individuals.

She advised those who are yet to receive payments to reach out to Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), whose duty, she said, it is to send their details to the AG's office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPwlpuOJ6y4

Former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has been condemned for allegedly causing a massive breakdown of security architecture in the country through nepotistic appointment of service chiefs.

This is coming from a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka.

According to Chidoka, a former Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps said it will take the country many years to recover from the ruins experienced during Buhari’s eight years in power.

Chidoka spoke during a Flo Fm radio program South East Political Roundtable monitored by ABN TV on Tuesday.

“There is a massive breakdown of security in the country. It was worsened in the eight years when former President Mohammadu Buhari was in power because of his lopsided and nepotistic appointment of service chiefs.

“He destroyed the security agencies and I think it will take us many years to recover from the destruction.

“But beyond his era, if you go back in time, you will find that the major problem is that we have turned our security agencies into employment opportunities for the boys, our constituents, and friends.”

According to Chidoka, the  top hierarchies in the police, army, and the Department of State Services are populated by “unintelligent people managing our security agencies.”

“A look into the police budget will reveal that 90 per cent is used for salary payment, while only about four or five per cent is left for recruitment expenditure.

“This means that they have to find other ways of meeting up with their pressing needs. That has led to a broken down security, which is not peculiar to the South-East geo-political zone alone,” he added.

Young Miss Blessing Felix said to have been kidnapped by an unknown woman in Olokoro Umuahia Abia state has been found in Abuja.

The victim in a virile video said her grandmother had sent her to go and purchase an item from where she was whisked away.

According to her, “The woman carried me and put in the boot”. She said she did not know the woman.

The victim who is about 10 years could not offer an explanation on how she got to Abuja and was quick to add that she wants to go back to her village.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has condemned the killing of a Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Mr Zakari Maduka, in the state and urged security agents to fish out his killers.

He said this in a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, and made available to ABN TV on Friday.

ABN TV reports that Maduka was killed on Tuesday night at Uturu, in the Isuikwuato Local Government Area of the state by yet-to-be-identified assailants.

Otti described the beheading of Zakari as insane, barbaric and vicious.

He, therefore, called on security agents to speed up action and ensure that those involved directly or indirectly were brought to justice.

The governor, who expressed sadness over the killing of Zakari, said he distinguished himself during the last general election as the Labour Party Campaign Manager in Uturu.

He said Zakari also played active roles as a community leader in fighting kidnapping and other crimes.

Otti regretted that Zakari had his life cut short when he was supposed to reap the fruits of good governance served Abia residents by the Labour Party government.

The governor promised that the government would stand by the deceased’s family and give them all the necessary support required.

He restated his commitment to ensure the protection of lives and property in Abia particular and the South East in general.

He said it was such desire for security that necessitated the recent launch of a joint security Taskforce codenamed “Operation Crush” in the state.

Gunmen Behead Rep. Amobi Ogah's Campaign Coordinator In Abia, Flee With Head

Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday night beheaded a campaign coordinator of member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon. Amobi Ogah and departed with his head. pic.twitter.com/x4Y7eY0tHG

— ABN TV (@abnonlinetv) September 14, 2023

The member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Chief Obi Aguocha, of the Labour Party has defeated the former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Orji at the National Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

The tribunal on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Orji, who was the PDP candidate for the federal constituency on the Feb. 25 election against Hon. Aguocha.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Aguocha the winner of the House of Representatives election after polling a total number of 48,199 votes to defeat Orji, who polled 35,196 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Orji, son of former governor Theodore Orji, approached the tribunal to seek redress.

He prayed the court to nullify Aguocha’s victory, claiming that he was not duly nominated as the LP candidate and therefore was not qualified to contest the election.

Orji, also told the Court that Aguocha, contested the PDP primary election and lost before joining the LP.

He argued that Aguocha’s name was not in the register of the Labour Party summited to INEC, while there was no notification to INEC 30 days before the primary election that produced him as the LP flag bearer.

Orji, further stated that there was overvoting in some polling units that gave Aguocha an advantage over him.

However ruling on the matter on Thursday, the tribunal led by Justice Abubakar Kutigi, ruled, the membership of a political was a pre-election matter, adding that the tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, which should have been decided before the election.

He also ruled that the petitioner failed to prove that the respondent was not duly nominated by LP, as the issue concerning the candidate of a party in an election is an internal party affairs.

The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu says his attention has been drawn to what he called yet another very reckless statement made by the administration of Governor Alex Otti.

"In what has become a dangerous obsession, the Otti administration has become incurably unable to do anything without looking for any possible means to blame the Ikpeazu administration, even for things that make absolutely no sense", spokesman of the former Governor Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka said in a statement.

He said the latest ploy of this administration is to blame former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for their decision to sack several thousands of workers from the Abia State Civil Service.

In a statement credited to one Okey Kanu, Commissioner for Information in the Otti administration of Abia State, he attributed the decision of the Otti administration to sack these workers to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu whom he accused of employing people "illegally".

According to the former Governor's Spokesperson, it is disturbing that someone who speaks for a state government is blatantly ignorant of the workings of government.

He said, "How can actions carried out by a sitting Governor in offering employment to teeming Abians be termed as illegal?

"The term illegality connotes some form of criminality. What is criminal about the decision of an incumbent Governor to offer employment to the people of the State, putting them on the payroll and paying them salary?

"According to the statement under review, Mr Kanu accused the Ikpeazu administration of "employing people through the back door and backdating employment letters given to them".

"This statement is ridiculous and preposterous. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

"The Ikpeazu administration had absolutely no reason to backdate any employment letter issued to any person employed in the State Civil Service. The reason is simple. Ikpeazu remained the Governor of Abia State till the midnight of 28th May, 2023, and by that token, all administrative actions he took within that period were covered with the robe of legality.

"Even speaking from a purely legal perspective, all actions taken by a sitting Governor enjoy the presumption of legality.

"One of the powers of a State Governor is the grant of waiver for employment to the people of the State. Dr Ikpeazu as Governor duly exercised this power for the benefit of teeming Abia youths and had absolutely no apologies to anyone for that action. One of the most important responsibilities of government is to provide employment opportunities to the citizens of the State. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is proud to have taken that decision to create jobs for our people. If Governor Alex Otti has chosen to sack these workers who were duly employed, then he must accept full responsibility for that decision and not blame another person for his indiscretions. It is as simple as that.

"The point must be made that contrary to the falsehood contained in the statement made by the Commissioner, these people who have now been sacked by Otti were employed under clearly defined due process supervised by the State Civil Service Commission.

"There is not any single person employed into the State Civil Service whose employment did not go through the Civil Service Commission whose statutory responsibility it is to manage the process of employment into the State Civil Service. The records are there.

"Unknown to this Commissioner who appears to be totally ignorant of the workings of the Civil Service, the process of employment into the Civil Service takes quite some time and doesn't happen automatically.

"First, the state government under Ikpeazu introduced biometrics in the assessment of the actual number of workers in the State Civil Service and this revealed several valid vacancies which led to the commencement of the processes for filling them.

"Qualified Abians were offered employment into the Civil Service and were being maintained until this new administration came and sacked these workers, treating them as if they committed any offence by accepting employment from a sitting administration in the State.

"The simple truth is that Governor Alex Otti came into government with overflowing vendetta in his heart which he has exhibited without any inhibitions whatsoever. What of the Permanent Secretaries he sacked from office? Were they employed by Ikpeazu too?

"This is the first time in the history of our State and indeed anywhere in the country that a new administration came into office and sacked the entire Body of Permanent Secretaries together with the Head of Service, leaving only 2 Permanent Secretaries.

"Such arbitrary display of raw totalitarianism is strange to the public service where careers enjoy substantial stability. There are clear procedures to be followed in sacking a Civil Servant under the Civil Service Rules.

"These Permanent Secretaries were issued no queries, they had no subsisting displinary cases, they just woke up one morning and heard over the radio that they have been removed from office. These are men and women who have served the State all their working lives. They have reached the pinnacle of their careers only to be kicked out like common casual workers. Was that Ikpeazu's fault too?

"Meanwhile, Otti brought the current Accountant General of the State from an Insurance Company in Lagos, ignored all known rules of public service and made her Accountant General. When it became clear to him that he had committed a massive blunder, he quickly granted waiver for her to be employed as a Level 16 Civil Servant without going through the Civil Service Commission. This is the height of hypocrisy!

"One other distinctive feature of the Civil Service is respect for Seniority. When Otti removed the State Head of Service from office together with the Permanent Secretaries, he ignored all known rules of seniority and took a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Education and named her Head of Service, bypassing all serving Directors in the State Civil Service.

"Funny enough, the lady who is now Head of Service became a Deputy Director in the Service by virtue of the Command Promotion given by the TA Orji administration in the State, which Dr Ikpeazu upheld upon assumption of office as Governor. But Otti came in and nullified command promotions given to Abia workers by the Ikpeazu administration.

"Otti's penchant for sacking of workers should not come as a surprise to any close watcher of his professional life.

"Otti spent his entire working life as a banker. The modus operandi of banks are well known. They are set up primarily to make profit and do not, by any stretch of the imagination, run on the principle of welfarism which governments stand for.

"Once banks are under any form of financial pressures, the first casualty is always the worker. Laying off, sacking, downsizing and rightsizing of the work force is synonymous with banks and their overzealous capitalist tendencies.

"This is exactly the mindset Otti came into governance with. Sack workers and keep the wage bill manageable. Simple!

"Within the first 100 days of his administration, Otti has sacked close to 10,000 workers across various strata of the State workforce.

"Perhaps, the most disturbing aspect is that they declare human beings who come to work every day as Ghost workers!

"These people have come out in the open to complain and cry, yet in the books of Otti and his administration, they are ghost workers, simply because they could not be captured by the contractors they brought from Lagos with their strange technology!

"A good case in point is the case of workers in the Abia State Liason Offices in Lagos and Abuja. They were all mandated to come to Umuahia for physical verification. Some of the workers are drivers and other junior workers who earn about 40,000 per month. They came to Umuahia and were kept for about 5 days unattended to and without any plans to offer them any form of assistance in terms of accommodation and food .When they elected to return to their stations, they suddenly became Ghost Workers.

"The gale of complaints from workers who beseige the office of the Accountant General on a daily basis to complain about being branded Ghost Workers is clear evidence of a badly managed process.

"Otti must take responsibility for his decision to sack workers. Ikpeazu has no hand in it. Ikpeazu employed them and paid them salaries from the time they were hired. It is common knowledge that workers in the State Ministries received their salaries regularly under Ikpeazu up until March 2023 when that judgment of an Abuja High Court froze the accounts of the State Government. Ikpeazu's salary obligations to workers in the State Civil Service was up to the month of April 2023. While he paid Local Government workers up to that month, workers in the State Civil Service were only owed for one month, April 2023!

"We concede that we had some gaps in the salaries of some agencies of government and pensions but the situation was not as bad as the people were meant to believe.

"Ikpeazu battled to pay salaries to workers even with the dwindling revenue profile of the State. Today, on account of the removal of Petroleum Subsidies by the Federal Government, Otti has received in three months what Ikpeazu never got in almost one year, yet he chose to sack workers!

Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah has rejected the judgement of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, NAEPT, sitting in Umuahia which sacked him as the winner of the Feb. 25 National Assembly Election, ABN TV reports.

The tribunal in its ruling on Wednesday declared the petitioner, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha of the All Progressive Congress (APC) winner of a suit marked EPT/AB/HR/8/2023.

The judgement was delivered by the Chairman of the National and State House of Assembly election petitions in Abia state, Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe.

Justice Adeyinka declared Onyejeocha winner with a total number of 11,936 votes while the second and third respondents had 9,728 votes.

He also said that Ogah was not qualified to contest in the election as he and Labour Party did not comply with the provisions of section 77 by not submitting their membership register to INEC.

In his reaction in a statement, Ogah said he rejects the ruling and will go ahead to challenge it in court.

"Let me be clear that I am rejecting the tribunal's ruling and will appeal the obvious miscarriage of justice, fairness, and objectivity", he stated.

According to Ogah, "My opponent, whom I know, did not win the election and the judge cannot announce a result presented by the petitioner as concrete against the result presented by INEC. With the benefit of hindsight, this bizarre outcome is not totally strange as we had seen tendencies of clear compromise by the panel who discarded all known principles governing election adjudication and enunciated their own principles. Indeed, manifestation of it was writ large at the adoption of final addresses wherein the current Attorney General of the Federation- Lateef Fagbemi SAN made comments suggesting underhand dealings with the Chairman of the Panel.

"I want to use this medium to call on my constituents who voted for me, knowing my capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to them, to be calm law and abiding as I appeal the judgment delivered by the tribunal.

"For the records, I scored a total of 11,769 votes against my Opponent whom the commission said scored a total of 8,752 votes. It is very bizarre that despite calling a lone witness and dumping several strange result sheets before the Tribunal, the members of the panel cognized the same and disregarded original copies of the result sheets produced from proper custody."

Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, Rep. Amobi Ogah has said the call on President Bola Tinubu to use condoms for palliative for the poor as a measure to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is unnecessary.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJVzETm0pCE?si=UOLV9Kqo4p-ftx3k

Ogah also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the House for naming him the chairman of the Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, saying it is an opportunity to contribute to the development of Nigeria's health sector.

Featuring on TVC's legislative programme, Hallowed Chambers monitored by ABN TV, Ogah said the most suitable palliative for the poor at this moment who are affected by the removal of fuel subsidy is food and measures that will ameliorate the economic hardship confronting many families and not the provision of condom.

Ogah, an expert in oil and gas noted that despite being relatively new in the field of his committee, he is poised to make the best out of the privilege to advance effective service delivery in health sector.

"I'm glad though I never expected to be chairman of that committee", he stated. "It's an honour to me, an honour to learn, it's an honour to save lives, an honour to be part of people that will improve our health sector", he added.

The lawmaker noted that since he was named chairman of the committee, he had embarked on a study to bring new innovative ideas in delivering this assignment.

While noting that it requires a political will to entrench a permanent turnaround in the sector, the Abia lawmaker emphasized that he has engaged some consultants who will offer technical support in discharging the mandate of the committee.

Hon. Ogah while decrying the endemic of fake drugs in circulation, said it is largely attributable to why malaria has become a hydra-headed health challenge in Nigeria.

"I can tell you that out of every ten Nigerians, eight are suffering from malaria. It's a very serious issue.

"Anything I put my head to, I do it very well. At a point I started thanking God, maybe there are lives He wants me to go and save out there.

"With the robust plan we have, in the shortest period of time, we are going to expose a lot. From the consultations we have carried out, we are poised in making a change. It requires a political will and that will is there", he stated.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has declared that nothing would hinder his avowed decision to rebuild Aba, the commercial capital of the state, including rains, ABN TV reports.

The immediate past government of the PDP had consistently adduced rainy seasons as reason for slow pace of construction works in Aba and other parts of the state.

Governor Otti, who was joined on Friday by the Hungarian Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Gabor Kruss, and Economic Counselor of the Hungarian Embassy in Nigeria, Judith Beres, on an inspection tour of some ongoing road projects in Aba, said his government was determined to deliver on his promises during the campaigns, the governor's chief press secretary, Kazie Uko said in a statement.

Speaking to a jubilant crowd at Cemetery Road, one of the several roads being revamped in Aba, the Governor declared that the rains would not be an obstacle to giving residents of Aba the good life they have longed for in the past 24 years, the statement said.

"Whether it is raining or the sun is shining, we will rebuild Aba," Dr. Otti assured the cheering crowd, who left their shops and homes to mill around him and his entourage.

He continued: "I have come to see for myself the condition of this Cemetery Road and we're very happy with the progress of work in spite of the rain. The major challenge we have is that the drainage is blocked and the contractor, even though it's not part of his contract, has started desilting the drainage. If you look towards the left, you will see a lot of rubbish that they have excavated from the drainage.

"We have now divided the job into two phases. The first phase is from number one all the way to the rail line and across the rail is the second phase. So, all the rubbish we have here will be gone by tomorrow and once we have two days of dry weather, they will asphalt and this place will be ready to use.

"There is one more thing we will do, and we have also contracted for it; this place will have solar-powered street lights. Whether it is morning, night or darkness, this place will be lit up."

The Governor thanked the people for cooperating with the contractor and for their show of love and hospitality to the workers, urging for patience while the job lasted.

"Let me thank you once again for your patience. I know that you have been patient all this while and we have just a few more weeks before we deliver this road. We will also deliver other roads in Aba.

"Thank you for the support that you're giving to the workers. The contractor told me that you cook and bring food to the workers. I must thank you for that, God will continue to bless you," Dr. Otti prayed.

At least three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of two police officers on Tuesday during an attack on Abia State Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry in Ariaria International Market Aba, ABN TV.

The attack took place at Samec junction, Faulks Road, Aba,which led to the death of the two police officers. The suspects were arrested in Obingwa local government area of the state.

Police spokesperson in the command, ASP Chinaka Chioma Maureen, while briefing newsmen on Friday at the command headquarters noted that the arrests were made on Thursday, July 27.

She said, "On 27/07/2023 at about 11:3Oam, acting on credible intelligence, Police operatives from Abia State Police Command stormed a Hotel located in Ohanze Obingwa L.GA, Abia State.

"Consequently, three male suspects were arrested. Two revolver pistols, six rounds of 7.62x39MM Ammunition suitable for AK-47 rifles, and five rounds of 9MM Ammunition were found in their possession. Investigation into the case continues."

She also announced the arrest of 24 suspects comprising 20 males and 4 females suspects who allegedly carry out high profile kidnappings in the state.

Items recovered from them, she said include weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp, and some objects suspected to be charms.

Among suspects arrested according to her were two notorious kidnap kingpins in Umunneochi, for which investigation is ongoing

She said further, "On 27/07/2023, at about 8:00am acting on credible intelligence, Police operatives,led by the Divisional Police Officer Isuochi raided Garki market Lokpanta, arrested 20 male and 4 female suspects and recovered weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp, and some objects suspected to be charms. Among suspects arreted were two notorious kidnap kingpins in Umunneochi. Investigation is ongoing

"On the 22nd day of July 2023, at about 8:00pm, the Divisional Police Officer Isuochi and some operatives of Abia State Police Command while on patrol along Obinolu Ngodo, after the military base, ran into a Kidnapping incident.

"The kidnappers were given a hot chase and they ran into the bush, consequently, one victim was rescued.

"Furthermore, on 23 July, 2023, at about 6:00am, in continuation of the pursuit/bush combing, two more victims were rescued namely: Chukwukere Henry 'm' of Ogidi in Anambra State, Joshua Udeh 'm' of Okigwe in lmo State. Rescued victims confirmed that other victims succeeded in escaping and some ran to the military base, due to confusion that erupted in the kidnappers' den."

Interpol Systems Consultant, Sir Chikwe Udensi has hosted the daughter of President Bola Tinubu, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo at his Abuja home.

ABN TV gathered that the meeting centred around national issues.

The President’s daughter was impressed with Sir Udensi’s charity work in Abia State especially his empowerment of women, widows, indigent traders, and indigent education fund.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo also expressed gratitude to Sir Udensi as one of the highest donors in Rotary International. He has three times been awarded the major donor of Rotary International.

She also sought Sir Udensi’s collaboration in her pet project of charity

Sir Udensi in his response applauded the daughter of the President for her numerous works of charity across Nigeria.

He expressed readiness to partner with her in ensuring that more disadvantaged Nigerians are reached.

A magistrate court in Umuahia Abia State has slammed life imprisonment on a 37-year-old HIV-Positive man, Mr. Chiemela Victor Ekeke for raping a 4-year-old girl in Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg_oUAZeyck
Magistrate N. Lekwa had in the last sitting found the accused person guilty of infant defilement.

The court however discharged the accused person on count 1, which is bordering on conspiracy.

The second defendant was however discharged and acquitted, saying he had no common intention or anything linking him to the crime

The prosecuting counsel, Okezuonu Obioma applauded the decision of the court, saying it is the position of the law in defilement of a minor.

Mr. Chiemela Victor Ekeke had confessed to having carnal knowledge of the minor but pleaded for leniency.

Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, has dismissed as untrue and unfounded, the fake news that the State Government has sacked all medical doctors in the state public service.

According to the Commissioner, “the purported sack is only the figment of the authors’ imagination as the government has no intention of sacking or disengaging any doctor or health personnel currently working to support our ongoing efforts at reviving the health sector in the state.”

She also maintained that no one has been asked to submit “fresh expression of interest” as the fake circular directed.

Dr. Okoronkwo advised the doctors and members of the general public to ignore the rumour and support the several initiatives of the government at driving holistic healthcare delivery in the state.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has appointed the following persons into the under-listed positions, with effect from the date of this publication.

This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by the governor’s Chief Press secretary, Kazie Uko, made available to ABN TV.

1. Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor – Special Adviser, Monitoring and Evaluation

2. Hon Iheanacho Obioma – Special Adviser, Political Affairs

3. Prof Ijeoma Iheukwumere – Senior Special Assistant, Environment

4. Mr. Odinakachi Eric Eme – Senior Special Assistant, Multilateral and Donor Agencies

5. Mr. Nwaka Inem – Special Adviser on Trade, Commerce and Industry

6. Magdalene Ugoanusi – Senior Special Assistant, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs

7. Mr. Martins Okechukwu Justice (J Martins) – Special Assistant on Tourism and Entertainment

8. Dr. George Chidozie – Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties

9. Pastor Okorougo Aji – Special Assistant, Lands and Housing

10. Dr. Obioma Nwogbe – Senior Special Assistant, Transport

11. Mr. Chukwunenye Alajemba – Senior Special Assistant, Homeland Security

12. Ven (Dr.) Joshua Onyeike – General Manager, ASOPADEC

13. Pastor Dike Nwankwo – Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency

14. Dr. Uloaku Ukaegbu – Director, Abia State Agency for Control of AIDS

15. Dr. Eric Egwuibe – Senior Special Assistant, Budget and Planning

16. Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, Senior Special Assistant, Finance

17. Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke, GM, ASEPA

18. Mr. Daniel Chinagozi – Special Assistant, Digital Economy

19. Mr. Chinedu Ekeke – Deputy Chief of Staff (cum Senior Special Assistant on Sports and Youth Development)

20. Dr. Oluebube Olunna Chukwu – Senior Special Assistant, Due Process

21. Apostle Kenneth C. Wiper – Special Assistant on Religious Activities

22. Mr. Ishmael Onuoha – Senior Special Assistant, Cooperative Societies

23. Col. Ezichi Kalu (Rtd.) – General Manager, Abia State Road Traffic and Safety Management Agency (ARTSMA)

24. Mrs. Mathilda Anyamele – Special Assistant, Special Duties.

25. Mrs. Chinwe Kanu Uba – Special Assistant, Women Mobilisation.

26. Mrs. Chinwe Onyeukwu – Special Assistant, Women Affairs.

27. Kanu Nwankwo – Chairman, Enyimba International Football Club, Aba

28. Boniface Alozie Uche – Chairman, Abia Comets

29. John Sam Obuh – Chairman, Abia Warriors

30. Dr. Benson Nwaigburu, GM, Abia State Debt Management Office

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has directed immediate payment of arrears of April salaries owed public workers in the state by the immediate past government.

Governor Otti also ordered the payment of June pensions to retirees, some of whom were being owed upwards of 50 months by the last administration.

This is contained in a statement on Monday by the governor’s Chief Press secretary, Kazie Uko, made available to ABN TV.

The payments he said are in fulfillment of his campaign promise not to owe pensioners and those in service and to clear all outstanding verified debts.

According to the statement, “The Governor gave the directive on Monday after a meeting of the Executive Council which had the Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, 16 newly sworn-in Commissioners, the Accountant General and other senior functionaries of the State in attendance.

“Dr. Otti directed the Accountant General to ensure that both the April 2023 salary arrears and the June pension are paid before the end of the week, despite the ongoing verification of pensioners and workers in the government payroll.”