The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress on Monday picketed the office of the Accountant General of the state, Mr. Gabriel Onyendilefu, over sundry allegations bordering on non-release of subventions to parastatals and demand for payment of salary arrears.
Before 7 am, the aggrieved workers had sealed off all entrances to the AG’s office. They also locked the gates that led to the Ministry of Finance as well as the Sub- Treasury’s office located on School Road, Umuahia, after chasing away the security man on duty.
The workers carried placards with inscriptions such as, “Onyendilefu is the Rehoboam of Abia State, the wrath of God will catch up with him soon”, “ Onyendilefu is the worst AG Abia has ever produced “, “You have dealt with us, God will deal with you”, and “Onyendilefu is the Accountant Genocide of Abia State”.
The NLC chairman in the state, Sylvanus Eye, told journalists that the union was disappointed by “the arrogance and insensitivity of the AG over the plight of Abia workers”.
Eye accused Onyendilefu of flouting orders from the governor to pay the salary arrears of parastatals.
Other sins of the AG, according to the NLC boss, include refusal to release check-off dues of unions; non payment of gratuity and pensions; withholding of approvals by the governor and blackmailing the governor.
“All local government areas in the state are all in arrears of salary, no school is not being owed; staff of ASUBEB are owed three months , and workers in Health Management Board are owed six months of salary arrears,” the NLC boss said.
He also alleged that over 2,000 workers were made to pay N2,000 each for a promotional exam that was never conducted nor was the fee refunded.
The state Chairman of Public Service Negotiating Council, Chris Okoro, said all workers and the industrial unions in the state were in support of the NLC action.
When contacted for his response, the AG dismissed all the allegations as fictitious, saying that “the function of payment is dependent on available cash”.
He said that the state’s allocation from the Federation Account had dwindled following the constant fall in oil price, hence the inability of his office to effect payment on all the approvals.
The AG said his actions were not deliberate but as a result of the realities on ground, arguing that if he were acting arbitrarily as being alleged, the governor would have called him to order.
“If what they are saying is correct, then what is the governor doing? Has the governor queried me? The governor has not accused me of any embezzlement,” he said. Agency report
