Ayodele Olalere
Staff at the secretariat of the South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) have cried out over six months salaries allegedly owe them by governors of the five South-East states.
The staff who are five Directors from each of the five South-East states of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia are allegedly being owed salaries and allowances by all the five South-East governors.
According to a stakeholder privy to the matter and who spoke under anonymity “the last time these Directors who have been running the secretariat since the past four years were paid salaries, was in January 2021.
“The South East Governors’ Forum Secretariat was inaugurated in 2017 with five (5) Directors, each from Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu and the Ebonyi States. But the governors have been treating the Forum and its staff with levity. The governors do not fund the organization the way their counterparts in the North East, North Central, Northwest and South West geo-political zones do,” he said.
“The South East Governors’ Forum Secretariat lacks basic tools to work with, no official cars, no utility vehicles, no furnished office, no office equipment, irregular payment of salaries and allowances, etc.
An Igbo Stakeholders group recently questioned the reason SEGF staff are owed salaries, but the governors dish out monies/materials to political assistants, traditional chieftains, Hausa/Fulani Muslims (when they celebrate their festivals, like the recent Eid- El-Kabir), acquaintances, friends, cronies etc.
It’s obvious that there is a correlation between idleness and criminality especially, when hardwok is not encouraged and rewarded,” he added.
He berated the governors for allegedly abandoning the Directors while they ( governors) enjoy.
” It’s worrisome and curious that while Ndi Igbo claim they are marginalised by the powers-that-be, Igbo governors do not care a hoot about their brothers at the SEGF.
The South East Governors take their own salaries, allowances and Security Votes with which they take care of their families, but do not remember that those working for them have same responsibilities to discharge.
“The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Ohanaeze, Igbo Youths and several other bodies describe the South East Governors as being insensitive to Igbo cause.
The Governors’ posture makes nonsense of the clamour for Igbo Presidency. Another stakeholders group has roundly criticized the Igbo governors as having abandoned Nnamdi Kanu while the South West is protecting their own, Sunday Igboho.
We solicit the intervention of all patriotic leaders/Ndi Igbo and lovers of peace and harmony.,”
