ABIA TO LAUNCH WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY, EXTENDS WORKERS’ VERIFICATION

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Abia State Government is to launch a whistle blower policy in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, made this known while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Prince Kanu noted that the essence of the policy was to put in place responsive machinery for better service delivery in the state.

According to the Commissioner, civil servants in the state, who did not undergo verification will no longer receive their salaries beginning from November this year.

Prince Kanu, however said that in line with the present administration’s policy of adding human face to its activities, the state government had opened a window of opportunity for unverified civil servants, as their names were shortlisted in their various MDAs.

He directed genuine civil servants who had not been verified to interface with heads of their various Ministries, Department and Agencies to go for verification.

On education, Prince Kanu said government was carrying out reforms and setting standards in the sector to ensure that schools operating in the state met the required standard.

He said 197 private schools recently shot down by government for failure to meet up with the required standard of operation might be reopened if they were able meet up with government guideline.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said local government chairmen would be sworn in on Thursday this week and expressed the hope that with their coming, there would be more development at the grassroots as funds meant for the Local Council’s would be properly utilised.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU