Suspended civil servants take protest to Delta Assembly

The newly employed civil servants whose appointments were suspended on the directive of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State embarked on a peaceful protest Tuesday at the State House of Assembly, Okpanam Road, Asaba pleading with the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya and his colleagues to intervene on their behalf and prevail on the governor to reinstate them.

Leader of the exasperated placard carrying male and female youths, Comrade Obus Regha told the Speaker that they were surprised that the first move of the governor on assuming office was to suspend their employment and throw them into unemployment. He expressed the concern of the group identified as Congress of Newly Employed Civil Servants at the experience, urging the Speaker and his colleagues to understand that they took part in electing the governor and the legislators into office.

Comrade Regha told the speaker to urge the governor to release the report of the panel of enquiry set up to look into the anomaly alleged to have taken place in the recruitment process. He said those who took money from applicants to smuggle in non-indigenes should be penalized, while the non indigenes that were inappropriately and wrongly employed thorough unwholesome means should be relieved of their appointments. “But we are Deltans. We who are true indigenes of Delta should not be denied employment,” Regha said.

Rt. Hon Igbuya in his response explained that as legislators the Assembly is not a place for employing people. “You elected us to make laws,” he said, and pleaded with them to be patient as the Governor is looking into the matter. “I am not speaking for the governor. He did not sack you. I want to assure you that government is looking into the matter. Be patient. Government is doing verification exercise to identify ghost workers,” Igbuya said.

He explained that of the N10billion that comes into coffers of the State government, N8billion is spent in paying workers’ salaries. He promised to convey the message to the governor.