ABIA: We’re Up-To-Date In Payment, Not Owing Operation Crush Soldiers — Kazie Uko

Abia State Government has debunked a report being circulated on social media that claimed that it owes Nigerian soldiers attached to its multi-agency security task force codenamed “Operation Crush”.

In a release endorsed by the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Mr Kazie Uko, the Abia State government dismissed the report, describing it as misleading and a total falsehood.

According to the release, Mr Kazie Uko maintained that Abia government, was up-to-date in meeting its obligations to the anti-crime task force, explaining that the prompt payment to soldiers had been instrumental in dealing with incidents of violent crimes and dislodging kidnapping rings, especially around the Umunneochi – Uturu – Okigwe axis of the Enugu – Umuahia – Aba – Port Harcourt expressway.

The Otti-led administration blamed the social media report on “enemies of the state who lost their hold on political power,” and appealed to the general public to disregard the report that it owed the soldiers.

The state government also said that it has started the clearance of eight years of salary arrears owed staff of the Abia State judiciary.

Here’s the full release as posted on Mr Kazie Uko’s Facebook wall.

ABIA UP-TO-DATE WITH PAYMENT OF SECURITY AGENTS IN OPERATION CRUSH

My attention has been drawn to a misleading report on the social media, alleging that the Abia State Government is owing soldiers attached to the multi-agency security task force, codenamed Operation Crush.

The General public is advised to disregard this falsehood as the state government is up-to-date in meeting its obligations to the anti-crime task force, which has been instrumental in dealing with incidents of violent crimes and dislodging the kidnapping ring around the Umunneochi-Uturu-Okigwe axis, especially on the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.

It is worthy of note that the Government of Abia State, under the able and dynamic leadership of the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has continued to pay workers salaries, pensions and all outstanding verified benefits accruing to Abia workers and retirees, since the assumption of office by Dr. Otti.

Only two days ago, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the umbrella association of judicial workers in Abia State, wrote to thank Governor Otti for living up to his promise to pay the arrears of their Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure (CONJUSS), which had remained outstanding since 2015.

The workers, through their union leader and Chairman, Oracle Chinedu Eze, expressed their gratitude to Governor Otti and government of Abia State for fulfilling the promise of salary payments.

“It is with a grateful heart full of joy and happiness that I, on behalf of the entire Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members and executives, wish to inform and appreciate you for the first batch of the CONJUSS arrears paid yesterday (November 15, 2023).

“Sir, we are most grateful and thankful Sir. May Almighty God bless you mightily. Amen and remain lifted,” Mr. Eze wrote in a message to the Abia State Governor, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna.

Abians are not lost in the fact that the falsehood being peddled on the social media is the handwork of the enemies of the State, who have lost their hold on political power in the state and have now chosen to see nothing good in Governor Otti, their Achilles heel.

KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
November 17, 2023

 

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