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The Abia State Ministry of Environment in Umuahia experienced a turbulent protest on Wednesday, as some dissatisfied staff members alleged that their salaries had been unfairly reduced by over eight million naira in the last three years.
The protesters rallied together, calling for an investigation into the deductions and seeking assurances that their grievances would be taken seriously by the ministry.
Protesters, carrying various placards, claimed that the salary deductions stemmed from funds allocated to a Christmas welfare program established in 2021. They expressed frustration over the ongoing nature of these deductions, asserting that they have yet to receive any refunds, which they believe undermines their financial stability and trust in the ministry.
Frustrated by their situation, the staff appealed to Governor Alex Otti for assistance as they marched to the office of the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna. However, their efforts were thwarted when they discovered that the commissioner was not in the office to address their concerns.
The staff reported that, although the salary deductions commenced in 2021, several employees have consistently detected discrepancies in their paychecks. This ongoing realization has exacerbated their concerns and contributed to the urgency of their protest, as they seek clarity and resolution from the ministry.
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The workers identified a few influential personnel within the ministry, indicating that some powerful staff may have played a role in orchestrating the deductions from their salaries.
One of the staff who spoke about the money said that even some retired staff of the ministry are also victims of the Christmas money, adding that such retirees have not been able to recover their deducted money.
“About four panels have been set up on this matter and nothing has happened. The other time they claimed that armed robbers stormed here and shot in the air and carried money but we never heard any gun shot. They just embezzled our money”, said a staff member simply identified as Onyeoma.
They called for the implementation of the reports of the Panels previously set up on the matter to ensure that the deducted money is refunded to their rightful owners.
Abia State ministry of environment is yet to issue any statement in reaction to the protest but a senior staff of the ministry said that the alleged deducted welfare money may have happened under the past administration.