The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Abia State, Kelechi Anosike, has promised to recall about 15,000 civil servants he alleged were sacked or prematurely retired by the present administration if elected governor in the 2027 election.
Anosike made the pledge on Thursday while speaking as a guest at the monthly congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Abia State Council, held at the NUJ Press Centre in Umuahia.
The PDP candidate criticised the administration of Governor Alex Otti over what he described as its approach to workers’ welfare, arguing that employees should not be removed from service or retired before reaching the established retirement milestones.
Anosike Promises Recall of Affected Workers
Anosike said a government committed to workers’ welfare should respect the applicable conditions of service and allow civil servants to complete the period prescribed for their employment.
“If the rule says you will work 35 years and you retire, or 60 years; if you don’t attain those milestones, a welfarist government will not retire you,” he said.
He specifically referred to the 15,000 workers he alleged had been affected by the administration’s decisions and promised that they would be brought back into service if he wins the governorship election.
“Inform those 15,000 workers that were sacked before time that Kelechi Anosike will recall all of them,” the PDP candidate said.
According to Anosike, some of the affected workers were still in their 50s when they were removed from service. He alleged that some were dismissed without being issued queries or subjected to public inquiries.
“Some of them are 50 years, some of them are 52 years. They did nothing, no query, no public inquiry, and you sack them and they are now suffering in their homes,” he said.
The allegations about the number of workers affected and the circumstances of their removal were made by Anosike during the NUJ engagement.
PDP Candidate Criticises Use of State Funds
Anosike also criticised the Otti administration over what he described as its utilisation of funds accruing from the removal of fuel subsidy.
The PDP candidate scored the state government low on the issue, arguing that its spending priorities had placed considerable emphasis on road infrastructure without adequately addressing other immediate needs of residents.
He said government resources should be directed towards broader areas of public welfare rather than concentrating efforts on roads alone.
Anosike did not limit his criticism to workers’ issues, using the interaction with journalists to raise concerns about unemployment and the movement of young people out of Abia in search of economic opportunities.
Anosike Promises Jobs Through Industrialisation
The PDP governorship candidate expressed concern about unemployment among young people in the state, particularly graduates of tertiary institutions who, he said, were leaving Abia for cities such as Lagos and Abuja in search of employment.
He attributed the movement to the difficulty many young people face in finding suitable employment opportunities after completing their education.
Anosike promised to tackle the challenge if elected, identifying industrialisation and other youth-focused policies as part of his proposed approach to creating opportunities for young people in the state.
He said his administration would seek to address the conditions that encourage graduates and other young people to leave Abia in search of jobs elsewhere.
The promise formed part of his broader argument that government policies should focus directly on improving the welfare and economic prospects of citizens.
Anosike Challenges Journalists
The PDP candidate also used the engagement to challenge journalists in Abia State to maintain scrutiny of government activities and hold public officials accountable.
He urged members of the media to ask difficult and relevant questions about governance rather than becoming instruments for political messaging.
“Journalists are the conscience of society, and not megaphones for politicians,” Anosike said.
His comments came during the monthly congress of the Abia State Council of the NUJ, providing an opportunity for the governorship candidate to outline his position on workers’ welfare, public spending, unemployment and the role of the media.
Anosike’s central promise was that a PDP government under his leadership would, if elected in 2027, recall the 15,000 workers he alleged had been prematurely removed from the Abia State civil service.
He also pledged to pursue industrialisation and youth-friendly policies as part of an effort to create employment opportunities and reduce the pressure on young people to leave the state in search of jobs.
