Illegal dismissal: CLO threatens to drag Bayelsa govt, to court

THE Bayelsa State Government would be in court over alleged illegal dismissal and withholding of salaries of 19 civil servants, if the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) makes good its threat at the expiration of the ultimatum issued to the government.

The right group issued the ultimatum against the backdrop of the alleged dismissal without conforming to civil service standing rules of 18 affected civil servants comprising drivers, security guards, clerical officers and cleaners with Nembe Universal Basic Authority.

“We (CLO) will not fold our hands and allow impunity and disrespect of the service rules to prevail over the alleged wrong dismissal and withholding of salaries of 19 civil servants in the state civil service.

The CLO, through its counsel, Okorodas & Co. Chambers, has, therefore, issued ‎a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to reverse the ”wrongful and illegal acts” and restore the payment of salaries and arrears to the affected civil servants.

‎The CLO, in a letter of notice to the Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa State Civil Service Commission, dated August 10, 2017, stated that those unlawfully sacked, without query letters nor dragged before a disciplinary committee, were employees of Nembe Local Government Universal Basic Education Authority and the state Sports Council.

The organization alleged that 18 of the affected civil servants comprising drivers, security guards, clerical officers and cleaners with Nembe Universal Basic Authority were sacked without due regard to Civil Service rules.

It equally claimed that one Kingdom Tariah, who is the Head Coach of Kick Boxing under the State Ministry of Sports, was queried by the state Director of Sports, Fetonghan Paris, on a false allegation of collecting fund for a sporting event in Lagos last June but allegedly failed to attend.

The CLO said though Tariah replied to the query and denied the allegation, his salary had allegedly been withheld for three months without justification.

”While we won’t feign ignorance to the prevailing harsh economy in the country and state, subjecting a family man to untold hardship resign his family to starvation, ill-health and ultimately death owing to inability access medication” the right organization stated.