More facts have emerged concerning the reported stoppage of salary of a civil servant attached to the Abia State Office of Due Process, with authorities saying the action followed alleged prolonged absence from duty.
It was gathered that the driver, who was posted to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Due Process, Dr. Oluebube Chukwu, resumed work about one week before allegedly staying away from duty for more than nine months.
Findings indicated that the matter was treated as a disciplinary issue arising from the officer’s alleged absence and was subjected to administrative processes before action was taken.
The Due Process Office was said to have engaged the appropriate authorities, including the Office of the Head of Service, before the disciplinary measure was effected.
The development comes after reports alleged that the worker’s salary was arbitrarily stopped by the Due Process Office. However, sources said the case involved an alleged breach of public service rules relating to attendance and official responsibility.
The case has also raised concerns about grievance procedures in the civil service. Public servants are expected to utilize established channels within the system for redress rather than taking administrative disputes directly to the media.
The matter also drew attention to professionalism in reporting allegations involving public officials. The initial account that generated questions during Governor Alex Otti’s monthly media interaction reportedly reflected only the complaint of the affected worker, without details of the alleged prolonged absence.
Governor Otti, while responding during the interaction, directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported salary stoppage.
The Governor described the reported action as unacceptable if carried out outside established rules and administrative procedures, stressing that no individual, regardless of position, should arbitrarily stop the salary of a public servant.
The investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the worker’s alleged absence, the administrative steps taken by the Due Process Office, and whether due process was followed in the disciplinary action.
The development has also brought into focus the need for discipline, adherence to rules and use of approved channels in resolving disputes within the public service.
The outcome of the SSG’s investigation is expected to provide further clarity on the case.
Salary Stoppage: Fresh Facts Emerge on Circumstances Surrounding Abia Driver’s Disciplinary Case
Well… Need for more indepth search before reporting… At same time… A journalist cannot know everything, some things he knows is a bait to sip out the rest.
Jisie ike Sa