Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has stated that employing new individuals into the state’s civil service is not currently a priority for his administration.
Governor Otti made this known during a monthly interactive session with the media in Umuahia on Thursday.
He emphasized that the issue of employment would only be considered after the government had addressed existing matters within the civil service.
Otti highlighted that there is an existing embargo on employment that he has maintained, and it remains in force.
He expressed concern over the high number of personnel in the civil service, even after verification processes have been conducted.
The governor lamented the substantial wage bill of about four billion naira monthly for both local government and state civil servants.
However, Otti assured that his administration is actively working to improve and enhance the remuneration of civil servants.
He acknowledged that there are individuals in the service who may not be performing at optimal levels, and steps need to be taken to address this issue.
Governor Otti indicated that while opening up employment opportunities may not be a priority currently, the government is exploring ways to exit non-performing personnel, although this is challenging due to civil service regulations.
He explained that the recent establishment of the Civil Service Commission, along with the appointment of a new Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, aims to ensure that civil servants receive adequate training to enhance their skills and performance.
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