More Heads To Roll In Abia Civil Service As Gov Otti’s Panel Of Inquiry Kicks Off
Some top civil servants in Abia State may be suspended or redeployed in the next few months if they are indicted in the ongoing shake-up in the service or by the Government’s Panel of Inquiry.
The shake-up, as gathered, would be in furtherance of the ongoing probe by the state to recover government properties that were allegedly stolen or converted to private use by officials of the former administration.
A grapevine from one of the government offices in Umuahia told DAILY POST that more high-ranking officials in the civil service may soon be invited by the Panel of Inquiry tasked with the recovery of alleged stolen state assets.
The source disclosed that the sweeping suspension of the Head of Service, Onyii Wamah and Permanent Secretaries by Governor Alex Otti were bold steps taken to ensure that nothing is swept under the carpet during the investigation period.
“The suspended Permanent Secretaries are all presumed innocent and may still be recalled to their positions if nothing indicting is proved against them,” said the government official, still under anonymity.
It is also believed that the Governor reasoned that suspending the HoS and Perm Secs would help the Panel members work without interference or obstruction or intimidation.
The dependable source noted that there is apprehension among some Directors and other high-ranking government officials including those heading their offices in an acting capacity.
The probe and recovery Panel may extend the scope of its searchlight to the Director’s activities in their Ministries, Departments and Agencies during the last administration, the source claimed.
Apart from the issues of property recovery, the suspension of the top brass in the civil service is viewed by many policy followers, as part of Otti’s determination to reform the State’s civil service.
The first step was taken by the Governor this month when the State government stopped the payment of salaries to some civil servants who did not survive the verification exercise conducted in the civil service system.
When this correspondent visited the office of the Head of Service and along Library Avenue, the atmosphere was calm with officials seen discussing the removal of their former boss, Onyii Wamah in hush tones.
At Abia State Secretariat, many workers were seen deliberating the shake-up that affected their bosses at the high-rise building.
One of the ‘Super Perm Secs’ was according to the government source due for retirement soon before the hammer of suspension fell on his head.
Governor Otti while inaugurating the Justice Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd) Penal on recovery of government properties, said his administration was inundated with several petitions alleging the looting of government properties by some individuals.
He charged the panel to ascertain whether government movable and immovable assets were illegally acquired, occupied or converted to private use and to identify such persons and make recommendations for the recovery of such assets and apportion appropriate sanctions on such persons.
Land allocations and revocations in the state from May 2015-May 2023 are also to be investigated to determine the propriety of such allocations and revocations.
Contract awards and executions from May 2015 to May 2023 are also to be investigated by the Justice Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe Panel.
While many supporters of the Governor have welcomed the setting up of the Panel, some Chieftains of the main opposition party in the state, PDP are critical of the move, alleging that it is a vendetta mission against the officials of the immediate past administration.
One of the PDP top shots thinking this way is Chief John Okeiyi Kalu, the immediate past Commissioner for Trade and Investment who said Governor Otti has made a Volte-Face from his initial promise not to embark on witch hunting.