Abia PDP governorship candidate promises to recall sacked workers if elected 

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike, has promised to reabsorb the over 10,000 workers sacked from the state workforce if elected governor in 2027.

Dr Anosike, who disclosed this during a media chat with newsmen at the PDP State Secretariat in Umuahia, said all those found to have been unfairly dismissed would be reinstated after a comprehensive review.

‎Anosike stated that as part of his welfare agenda, if elected governor, he was going to offset outstanding promotional arrears, pension liabilities and gratuity shortfalls owed to civil servants.

He further pledged to review cases involving workers allegedly retired before attaining the statutory retirement age.

He promised to introduce housing and vehicle loan schemes for civil servants, establish affordable retirement homes and review the state’s salary structure with a proposed minimum wage of ₦90,000 as a way of improving the welfare of workers in the state.

‎‎The candidate announced plans to establish a Civil Service College to provide continuous training and retraining of public servants to enhance productivity and service delivery.

Anosike said he would toe the economic and social development blueprint path that is anchored on the philosophy of the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr Michael Okpara.

“I will prioritise agriculture, industrialisation, and workers’ welfare, drawing inspiration from Okpara’s developmental model, if elected governor.

‎“Our philosophy aligns with that of Dr M.I. Okpara. Agriculture and industrialisation will receive priority attention to guarantee food security, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.”

‎Anosike was of the view that Abia, as a state, was blessed with enormous resources, maintaining that the state’s developmental challenges stem from poor management rather than a lack of funds.

‎“Abia is not poor but poorly managed,” insisting that the level of development in the state does not reflect the huge allocations currently received from the Federation Account”.

‎The PDP candidate lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, which he said increased states’ revenues, noting that governors now receive substantially higher allocations than before.

‎“Before President Tinubu’s emergence, many governors had to borrow from banks just to pay salaries. Today, enough funds are available. The difference between one state and another is management, and unfortunately, Abia is poorly managed,” he insisted.

Anosike defended past governors in the state for the development recorded during their tenure, stressing that they operated under heavy financial constraints, unlike what happens presently.