A group of civil servants who were disengaged from the Abia State civil service in 2011 by the State government is appealing to Governor Alex Otti for assistance to alleviate their suffering.
The group, known as the Association of Disengaged Workers of Abia State (ADWAS), led by Mrs. Fidelia Ihejirika, explained that they were disengaged in 2011 during the administration of Chief Theodore Orji. This was because they were considered ‘non-indigenes’ from Imo, Anambra, and Ebonyi States.
Mrs. Ihejirika expressed regret that out of the approximately 4000 members of the disengaged workers, 89 have already passed away due to hardships endured after losing their jobs.
“Some of us were asked to return to our respective states, where we had not worked all our lives,” Mrs. Ihejirika said. “Considering that some of us had put in 34 years of service in Abia, we were on the verge of retiring. It is absurd to expect states where we never worked to pay our retirement benefits and pensions.”
“Our only crime was that we are not from Abia State. Workers from other parts of the country were not affected by the sack, only those of us from the South East,” she lamented.
Mrs. Ihejirika also expressed her dismay that neither she nor her members, whether alive or deceased, have received any form of compensation, entitlements, or even their last month’s salary.
She further explained that the previous administration of Okezie Ikpeazu refused to re-absorb them into the civil service or pay their entitlements, despite their numerous pleas.
“Since 2011, we have not received any payment. When Okezie Ikpeazu became Governor, we had hopes that our entitlements would be paid, but he did not fulfill our expectations,” she said.
“We pleaded with his administration, hoping to be recalled, but all our efforts were in vain. My question is: Where is our money, and who is withholding it?” Mrs. Ihejirika queried.
The leader of the sacked workers revealed that a human rights group helped them secure a victory against their sack at the Industrial Court, but the Abia State government failed to adhere to the court rulings issued by the Owerri and Port Harcourt branches.
However, it should be noted that in October 2013, the then Abia State government, through a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, announced the recall of the disengaged workers.
The Commissioner stated that they were free to return to their former offices and even their former positions.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Fidelia Ihejirika alleged that the former administration did not follow through on its promises.
