Ebonyi Government on Friday said that it has approved the payments of arrears owed civil servants in the state. Mr Uchenna Orji, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Information announced this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting at the new Executive Council Chamber, Centenary City, Abakaliki.Orji said that the council has approved the payment of monetary value of promotion arrears owed to the state civil servants before April 7.He said that the council also directed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to ensure that affected employees at the local government system were paid.
Employees at both state civil service and local government service commission are owed years of promotion arrears since the inception of the present administration.He said:
“The governor of Ebonyi in Exco directed the payment of monetary value of promotion arrears owed to civil servants.He also directed ministry of local government and Chieftaincy Matters to do everything possible to ensure release of promotion arrears local government system employees.
On the Appeal Court judgement on the matter brought by Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji against Gov. Dave Umahi and his deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi-Igwe, Orji said the judgement has upheld the Constitution and other extant laws on election.Ogbuoji, the All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate in the 2019 gubernatorial election who came second in the election had approached Ebonyi High Court sitting Abakaliki asking the court to sack Umahi and his deputy.But, in Feb 28 the plaintiff lost in his bid to sack Umahi and his deputy for defecting to the APC from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Orji, the Appeal Court in its informed judgement dismissed the suit as lacking in merit and awarded N200, 000 judgement cost to the appallent.He thanked the people for their love, support and solidarity to the governor during the legal battle.”The Appeal Court, Enugu Division has dismissed appeal instituted by Sen.Ogbuoji seeking to remove Umahi and his deputy Kelechi-Igwe on account of the their defecting to APC.
“The Appeal Court affairmed that no court has the constitutional power to declare office of the governor or deputy governor vacant except as provided by the Constitution.”The court stated that defection has no constitutional or legislative implication as to warrant their vacation from office.”The learned jurists contended that it is not the duty of the court to infer what is not expressly contained in the Constitution or in the law,” Orji stated.
