Six Political Aides in the immediate past administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, have expressed dismay at the non-payment of their severance allowance by the present Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led administration.
The political aides who have been in and out of Court with the State Government since 2016, disclosed that, what was legally due them, have been hijacked by the Okowa administration due to some perceived political reasons.
Revealing these discord to Journalists, one of the affected Aides (name withheld), recalled the tedious processes and catch up actions since 2016, describing the ill treatment as unfortunate and breach of mutual agreement reached in 2017.
“We took the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration to court over the non payment of our severance package after successfully completing the tenure as stated in our appointment letters.
“Prior to filing the case in an Industrial Court at Awka, Anambra State, the political aides wrote and certified non-indebtedness to the state government but all to no avail.
“Our decision to go to court was taken in January 2016 when all plea fell on deaf ears.
“In August 2017, the Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney General of the State, Barr. Peter Mrakpor reached out to our counsel for an “out of court settlement” after the Judge threatened tough decision on the Delta State Government.
“The Six of us through our counsel agreed to the “out of court settlement” not knowing it was a delay tactics on the side of the Delta State Government not to honour the terms of our appointment.
“As at today, after Four years, our due severance allowance has not been paid despite constant pleas of the State Counsel for more time.”
They implored the State Government to settle their allowances as stipulated in the terms of their appointment which has been appreciated by the Office of the Attorney General of Delta State.
“In this season of payment of outstanding benefits to Delta State Civil Servants, we urge the State Counsel to close this litigation process by meeting to the terms of our agreement as reached between our party and the State because we are being treated as victims of political crossfire.”