No Plans To Sack Rivers Workers -Mrs Anucha

Wife of the Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi (right) with her Bayelsa counterpart Alanyigi Timi Sylva during a meeting of South-South Governor's wives in Bayelsa state.

The Rivers State Head of Service (HOS), Mrs Esther Anucha has allayed fears of public servants in the state  on recent rumours about moves  by government to sack workers as published in some local and national newspaper (Not The Tide).

Anucha assured that no public servant will be sacked, stating that what has actually been put in place was a staff verification exercise to comprehensively address the issue of ghost workers in the state.

The HOS, who was speaking at the  formal unveiling of the star price for the raffle draw as part of activities marking the 2010 civil service week, yesterday at the state secrtariate complex in Port Harcourt, said the issue was sequel to the fact that inspite of numerous committees set up in the past by the  state government, ghost workers still exist in payment vouchers of civil servants in the  state.

She said although 710 persons retired in 2008, 850 in 2009 and 489 will retire in 2010, the monthly wage bill still remains the same, stressing that the verification committee will unravel the mystery and ascertain the actual number of bonafide pensioners who are being paid pension by the state government.

She said the civil service week which is celebrated yearly was to commemorate the African Day of Administration in recognition of the pivotal role which the civil service plays in the stability and continuity of governments, adding that this was the third consecutive year civil servants in the state would be privileged to join their counterparts in others states of the federation and indeed the whole of Africa.

Also speaking, the permanent secretary in the state cabinet office, Ms Kadilo Brown described the event as unprecedented and commended the state government for the effort and urged civil servants to always avail themselves of the rare opportunity of winning a brand new KIA Cerento car, a 40inch LCD television and Deep freezer.

High point of the occasion was the unveiling of the star prize by the state commissioner for Environment, Bar Kingsley Chinda, who represented the chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Nyesom Wike.