Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has debunked rumour making rounds allegedly by All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that he wants to sack senior civil servants from grade level 12 upwards in order to be able to pay the new minimum wage.
He assured civil servants in the state that he has no plans of downsizing the state workforce as a condition for the payment of the wage.
Umahi said this on Wednesday in a Press Conference at the Government House, Abakaliki, where described it “as a baseless campaign of calumny emanating from the pit of hell.”
The Governor said that the Minimum Wage was a national issue and no individual state has the right to act in the contrary when finalized.
He stressed that Government had set out over N4billion as soft loan fund to be accessed by Civil Servants wishing to diversify their sources of livelihood at very low interest rate and extended repayment period.
He said: “I want our people to throw that rumour to the pit of hell and continue their businesses.
“Minimum wage is a national issue and no State has the right to say otherwise, especially as there are palliative measures being put in place by the federal government to that effect.
“I want to assure Ebonyians that when the minimum wage is approved, there would be adequate provisions to pay the wage in full in Ebonyi State.
“I have no plans to sack any Civil Servant at all.”The Civil Servants of Ebonyi State would be paid their minimum wage immediately the final verdict is announced.
“Anybody owed promotion in the Civil Service should report to the Head of Service for immediate action.
“Under my watch, no Civil Servant would be denied what is legitimately due to him or her.”
