Sixteen former staff of the dissolved Abia State Road Maintenance Agency (ABROMA) have called on Governor Alex Otti to address their long‑standing salary and grade‑level grievances, according to a statement made in Umuahia.
The workers, who began service in 2014 under the former administration, say they were integrated into the Abia State Ministry of Works after ABROMA was repealed. Despite undergoing verification, they continue to receive the same monthly pay of N21,000 and N23,000 that they earned at Grade Levels 2 and 3 a dozen years ago.
Orisa, the spokesperson for the 16 employees, explained that the salaries had stopped in April 2017 when former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu left office. They were not paid from that point until the current administration began issuing wages in May 2023, after verifying the staff.
“We were employed in 2014, but our salaries stopped coming in 2017. The former administration of Okezie Ikpeazu did not pay us from April 2017 until he left office in May 2023. But when Governor Alex Otti took over, he verified us and started paying us, and we are very grateful to Governor Otti for ending the seven years of non‑payment of salaries,” Orisa said.
Despite the resumption of pay, the workers remain on the same grade levels and continue to receive the same low wages. They are demanding that their salaries be adjusted to the minimum wage set by Governor Otti’s administration and that they be promoted in line with their current roles.
Commissioner for Works Don Otumchere Oti has written to the Abia State Civil Service Commission to investigate the complaints, and the Head of Service and other relevant agencies are reportedly aware of the situation.
“We have families and aged parents who depend on us. Some of us are sick, while others come from distant places to work. That is why we are appealing to our Governor to intervene in our situation as he did before, so that we can receive the same minimum wage as other staff, as well as gain promotion in our grade levels,” Orisa appealed.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
