Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Uyo, Mr. Monday Eyo, has refuted claims that the Commission was extorting N4,000 each from staff in the Unified Local Government Service of Akwa Ibom State, before giving out their 2023 promotion letters.
The chairman, who made the declaration while addressing participants during a two-day 2024 Pre-Promotion Seminar organized by the Local Government Service Commission, at the Multi- purpose Hall of the Commission, Monday, said the Commission never and would never extort money from any of its staff.
“Someone woke me up this morning and said that there is a publication in The Crest Newspaper of today, saying that we are extorting money from our staff in the Local Government Councils. It’s not possible.
“A Committee was set up to plan and come up with the Annual Report for the Commission, headed by the Commissioner II, Elder (Otuekong) Ibiok as the Chairman of the Committee on Promotion and Placement, with other commissioners as members, including the representative of the workers in that committee, which is the NULGE president in the state, just like what is obtainable in the State Civil Service Commission.
“An agreement was reached and approval was given for the production of the Annual Report Booklets and the price was fixed at N4,000.00 each.
“The money was meant for the purchase of the Annual Report and not for any other purpose. It is mandatory for all staff to buy a copy of the Annual Report, as part of the requirements for the promotion screening and interview. Please disregard such reports, it is the handiwork of mischief makers”, he said.
The chairman maintained that all monies collected from the Annual Report were paid into government designated Revenue Account and were received for, saying that those who refused to buy a copy of the Annual Report were the ones complaining.
He used the occasion to thanked the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for his impact so far felt by the Unified Local Government Service in terms of clearing of the outstanding backlog of 2023 leave grants, arrears of salaries owed to various local government councils staff in the state, monthly release of money for payment of pensions and gratuities as well as the approval for the conduct of the promotion exercise.
Eyo, a former Vice Chairman of Uyo local Government and legislator for Uyo State Constituency, also appreciated the cooperation and support to the Commission, as demonstrated during the Senior Staff Management Committee Meetings, which took place across the 31 local government councils earlier this year, an exercise that screened all the the short-listed senior staff due for promotion with effect from 1/1/2024.
He urged participants to be serious and participate effectively at all levels of the conversations while the seminar lasted, assuring that the Commission shall only promote everyone based on the laid down administrative procedures.
