Sacked workers protest Okowa’s automatic job for 14 choristers

The automatic employment granted to 14 choristers by Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to mark the 28th anniversary of the state’s creation, has triggered crisis among some sacked workers.

Over 3,000 sacked workers, including the 650 Delta Line Transport Company staff, under the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees and the 3,000 members of the Association that was suspended in 2015 have cried foul.

The governor had, during an inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark the anniversary at the Government House, Asaba, announced the automatic employment to 14 distinguished choristers.

However, chairman of the suspended civil servants, Obus Regha, on Wednesday expressed shock over the automatic employment, saying that the state government had earlier advertised job vacancies in the agricultural sector and had ignored his campaign promises to reabsorb the sacked workers.

“He granted automatic employment to his church members and ignored our suffering.

“We renewed our agitation for reinstatement last week. Instead of His Excellency to consider us for re-absorption as he promised during his re-election campaign, he went ahead to announce automatic job slots for people who never applied for it.

“He deceived us. We will take our destiny in our hands on this matter because we are Deltans, and we were recruited on merit,” Regha said.

One of the sacked Delta Line cashiers, Mrs. Patricia Okonkwo, told our Correspondent that their full entitlements, including their three-month in lieu of notice and other total terminal benefits are yet to be paid.

“Those who served the state meritoriously and were forced out of service without reaching retirement age deserve respect,” Okonkwo said.