Abia youths to Otti: Retrenching workers unacceptable | Be transparent with contracts’ costs

The All Progressives Youths of Abia (AYIG), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), says the recent retrenchment of thousands of workers by Alex Otti, governor of the state, is unacceptable.

In September, Otti ordered the disengagement of civil servants employed in the state from December 2022 to date.

Speaking at a press conference in Umuahia, the capital city of Abia, at the weekend, Henry Chigozie,  the group’s spokesperson, said the governor’s action amounts to depriving the citizens of the dividends of democracy.

Chigozie alleged that transparency has been relegated to the background in Otti’s administration.

“So far, in less than three months, over 10,000 Abia workers have been retrenched. This is unacceptable,” he said.

“In Otti’s Abia, transparency and accountability have been relegated to the background. No one knows the costs of projects or contractors working on projects in Abia.

“In view of the foregoing, we wish to draw the attention of the nation, well-meaning Abians and the relevant security agencies to these sinister activities and urge all concerned to take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of our great state and nation is not jeopardised.”

Also speaking, Stephen Ukwa, an official of the group, said Abia youths would resist “any act that will lead to mismanagement” of state resources.

“Mr. Governor should know that Abia youths will resist any act that will cause problems between us and the president of Nigeria,” Ukwa said.

“We will resist any act that will endanger the lives of Abia people. So, any act that will lead to the mismanagement of Abia state fund should stop forthwith.”