EXPL0SIVE: How 5,666 Workers Were Employed Without Abia State Govt Knowledge

By Anya C. Anya

The Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu led administration in Abia State have expressed dissatisfaction with the recruitment made by the Secondary Education Management Board since 2018 till date since over 90% of it was made without government approved waiver.

Investigation by AFNEWS revealed that the government had considered it necessary to set up a committee to investigate and review the series of recruitment done by SEMB from 2018 till date as a result of the inability of the government to pay those recruited and already in the service of the ministry of education.

The committee which was set by the Government headed by Dr. Mrs Kate Ndukauba was giving an assignment to review the employment made by SEMB and report back to the Government within few months .

Information available to AFNEWS is that the Committee have now concluded it’s Investigation and according to The State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, ” it is disheartening to find out that a total number of 5,666 staff out of 5,853 recruited by SEMB between 2018 till date were done without government waiver and approval.”

The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State Dr. A.C. Agbazuere while receiving the report from the Committee on SEMB on behalf of the state government in his office in government house Umuahia said it was worrisome that only 187 staff were employed with government waiver. According to Dr A.C.B Agbazuere” the present administration is very passionate in taking the state education sector to enviable height as well as give it the best harped it require but it is necessary that everyone must abide by the rules and regulations set up by government in carrying out any given assignment adding that the state will not tolerate any form of lawlessness.”

Also present at the event of the handing over of the report is the Permanent Secretary, Government House Umuahia, Mr Alozie Odoemelam, During the event held at the Abia State Government House, The Chief of staff also commended the members of the Committee for turning in their report on time despite the challenges posed by covid-19 pandemic and assured them that the state government will give full attention to the recommendations made in the report.

While presenting the report to the Government unbehalf of the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee on SEMB, Dr Mrs Kate Ndukauba noted ” that the verification exercise have been fully completed but there is need for the overhaul of the entire SEMB structure,a reconstitution of the board, establishment of personnel and finance audit for SEMB and ASUBEB among others” since it was going to avert a future reoccurence .

Dr Ndukauba also used the medium to thank the state government for the opportunity given to them to serve pointing out that the recommendations if fully implemented will go a long way in sanitizing the SEMB as well as improve the welfare of workers.