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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Anambra State civil servants have expressed sadness over the poor working conditions they have been subjected to by the government under the watch of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The workers, whose identities have been withheld for protection against witch-hunt and victimisation, lamented that almost all the welfare packages and privileges which the previous administrations extended to them have been withdrawn; and that they’re now struggling to survive.
The civil servants, who spoke to Sunday Sun at Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, lamented that the current minimum wage, despite being inadequate, was still not properly calculated.
They further lamented that they lack access to suitable accommodations; and that the absence of a transportation allowance or scheme burdens them with high fuel costs and transportation expenses.
Recall that former Governor Willie Obiano had provided buses for the civil servants but those vehicles disappeared from the roads shortly after his successor, Soludo, assumed office.
Speaking further, the civil servants claimed that merit was not considered during the last appointment exercise for permanent secretaries.
“In the current appointment of Permanent Secretaries there were no considerations to the due cadre,” one of them told Sunday Sun, and was corroborated by others.
The civil servants also cried out over the politicisation of their roles, alleging that politicians often interfered with their civil duties, thereby undermining their authority and flouting their established institutional pattern of operation.
They also expressed sadness over lack of periodic training for workers in the state, arguing that as the backbone of governance and the machinery that powers public administration, they deserved regular training as that would enhance their operational capacity and improve productivity.
They, however, appealed to Soludo to look into these issues as doing so would help to ensure fair treatment and promote effective service delivery in the state.
