Protest Rocks Abia State Ministry Over Unreturned Salary Deductions

Abia State’s Ministry of Environment in Umuahia witnessed a heated protest on Wednesday as aggrieved staff gathered to voice their discontent over salary deductions amounting to more than eight million naira. The staff, holding placards and chanting slogans, claimed that the deductions had been ongoing for three years under a “Christmas welfare program” initiated in 2021.

According to protesting workers, the funds were deducted from their salaries without explanation or refund. Although the deductions allegedly began in 2021, many employees say they continue to notice discrepancies in their pay to this day.

The protesters, who appealed to Governor Alex Otti for intervention, directed their frustration toward the office of the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna. However, Ogbonna was reportedly absent, leaving the workers without a direct response from ministry leadership.

One anonymous staff member expressed dismay over the situation, stating, “This issue has lingered for years. Even retired employees are affected, and they have yet to recover their money.” Another staff member, identified only as Onyeoma, expressed doubt regarding previous explanations, adding, “They claimed robbers came and took the funds, but there was no evidence or gunshot heard. They’ve simply embezzled our money.”

Workers report that multiple panels have been convened to investigate the issue, yet the funds remain unaccounted for. The protesters are calling for full implementation of panel recommendations to ensure reimbursement to affected employees.

While the Abia State Ministry of Environment has yet to release an official statement, an anonymous senior official suggested that the issue may stem from the previous administration’s policies. As of the time of this report, employees remain steadfast in their demand for transparency and restitution of their deducted salaries.