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The Government of Abia State has introduced a whistle-blowing policy, which is set to empower members of the public to raise the alarm over suspected fraudulent acts.
Okey Kanu who is the state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture made this disclosure on Wednesday while briefing journalists on decisions taken at the State Executive Council meeting. He described the policy as a significant milestone in the state government’s efforts at doing things differently.
He also announced that all unverified state government workers would, from the end of November, no longer be paid salaries, stressing that workers ought to be verified within the two weeks extension window.
Dr Betty Emeka-Obasi, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Special Duties to the Governor, Alex Otti, recalled that the verification started in July, but some workers had not made themselves available for the exercise.
According to the SSA, names of affected workers have been displayed in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and have been expected to submit their documents to heads of establishments, who would, in turn, hand them over to the verification committee.
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In the meantime, the state government has explained why Otti still governs the state from his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Council, and five months after he came into office.
The state PDP had, through its Vice Chairman/Acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, faulted Otti for doing so, alleging that by operating from his private country home, he expends about N500 million monthly.
But Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kazie Uko, told journalists yesterday, the governor had not moved in because he did not receive any handover note on the new Government House and no provision was not made for Otti to commence work immediately in the new Government House.
The CPS spoke after he led journalists on inspection of the old governor’s office, where Otti’s predecessors operated from and the new one located at New Station Layout, Umuahia, which was commissioned by Ikpeazu on May 28, a day before Otti’s inauguration as governor.
The visit to the new Government House revealed that only the left wing of the ground floor has been completed and furnished. The first, second and third floors have not been completed, especially windows and doors and other fittings.
It had been estimated that the new Government House would take about two years to complete. The CPS added that Otti had refused to give priority to his Umuahia residence and office to enable him to address immediate state needs.
