Fresh verification may spark industrial crises in Abia – TUC warns state govt
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has advised the Abia State government to urgently suspend the directive telling workers in the state to upload their academic, employment and promotion documents online.
A statement issued by the Secretary of TUC in the state, George Okogbue and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, described the exercise as insensitivity and negligence on the part of the state government.
Okogbue alleged that the organized labour was not involved before the decision to conduct the verification was arrived at, cautioning that an industrial crisis may erupt from the intended verification.
He said the State Executive Council, SEC, observed that the fresh exercise may inflict financial pains on Abia workers and as such, further impoverish them in the face of the present economic hardship.
“In spite of the fact that the TUC pointed out all the challenges witnessed in the first verification exercise, the government kept mute and now decided to impose another round of verification, nay hardship on Abia workers.
It noted that the previous verification carried out by the state government affected many workers, some of whom the TUC alleged did not receive their salaries for many months or had their names removed from payroll.
the Abia State Head of Service, Mrs Ngozi Obioma Queen, last week, issued a directive informing civil and public servants in the state to upload their details on a government verification portal.
The directive read:
“Following the ongoing staff verification exercise in the state, all civil and public servants in ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and the seventeen (17) local government councils are requested to upload the following documents with effect from May 10, 2024, to May 31, 2024.
“They are, All academic certificates (FSLC to the highest qualification), as well as professional certificates (if any), first appointment and confirmation letters.
The directive went on: “Other service documents inclusive are; conversion, transfer of service, advancements, approval for In-service training, and Gen 35 for each promotion earned and birth Certificate”.
