A wave of mass failures in the civil service promotional examinations has ignited a storm of controversy and criticism in Abia State.
Over 80% of civil servants who participated in the exams were reported to have failed, leading to widespread concern and debate over the examination process and its implications.
Governor Alex Otti attributed the dismal performance to inadequate preparation by the civil servants.
He stated, "The failure of many civil servants in the promotion and confirmation examinations is primarily due to their lack of preparation before sitting for the exercise."
However, this explanation has not quelled the growing unrest among the workforce and political opposition.
The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently criticized the state government, accusing it of orchestrating a deliberate ploy to humiliate and undermine civil servants.
In a letter addressed to Governor Otti, PDP Chairman Comrade Abraham Amah expressed deep concern over what he described as "unnecessary distress" caused to civil servants and their families.
Amah questioned the integrity of the examination process, asking, "Who conducted these examinations? Were they overseen by reputable organizations such as WAEC, Dragnet, or Philips Outsourcing?" He further warned that the mass failure might be a precursor to mass retrenchment or demotion within the civil service.
The PDP's letter highlighted a pattern of actions by the current administration that have allegedly eroded civil service norms and subjected workers to indignity.
These include unending verification exercises, unjustifiable terminations, and withholding of salaries for extended periods.
In response to the backlash, Governor Otti has ordered a re-computation of the consequential adjustment components of the N70,000 new minimum wage to address observed errors and conflicts.
This move was seen as a step towards addressing some of the grievances raised by the civil servants and the broader workforce.
The situation has also drawn attention from organized labor, with the National Leadership listing Abia among states where workers were directed to embark on a warning strike over the failure to implement the new minimum wage package.
However, a last-minute agreement between labor leaders and the state government averted the industrial action.
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