68 Abia Directors On Cliff Hanger

Sixty-eight directors on salary Grade Level 16 in the Abia State local government service are about to be retired by the state government.

The pointer is circular No. LGSC/AD/36/Vol.XVI/493 dated October 15, 2024 signed by the permanent secretary in the  Local Government Service Commission, Judith Ezinne Ngakwe.

The circular, addressed to the heads of service in the 17 local government areas of the state, reminded them of an earlier letter from the head of service in the state concerning the retirement.

The circular, which was sighted by our correspondent in Umuahia, the state capital yesterday, instructed the directors to proceed on compulsory pre-retirement leave immediately.

According to the circular, the directors, who are mostly acting or substantive heads of service, going by the date of the “immediate” directive, would by December/January end their services.

This might be a continuation of the ongoing initiatives of the present administration in the state started on assumption of office to re-gig the civil service.

Shortly after assumption of office last year, the Alex Otti administration retired over 30 permanent secretaries who are still insisting that the exercise was abrupt.

At press briefing last month to mark the first anniversary of the retirement, they said they were yet to be paid their severance and furniture allowances and gratuities.

Their spokesman, Nkwachukwu Agomuo, said it had become very urgent and pressing to bring to light their plight since their services were cut short.

According to them, they have taken several measures, including writing and interfacing with government officials and stakeholders to intervene on their behalf, all to no avail.