Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has said that civil servants who failed the promotion and confirmation examinations in the State did not prepare well before sitting for the exercise.
Otti said this on Friday at Government House, Umuahia, while responding to questions from journalists during the December edition of his monthly media chat.
The Governor, who confirmed that those who failed the first exercise have been given the chance to re-sit, said that none of those who failed the examinations would be sacked.
He, however, said that anyone who failed the promotion exam will remain at the same position until such a civil servant passed the examination.
“That is the reality, if you sit for an exam and you probably didn’t prepare very well, there are greater chances that you will fail,” he said.
He noted that the State will no longer operate with the culture where previous examinations in the State’s civil service reportedly saw every candidate passing.
On the case of civil servants being held for allegedly stealing pension funds, the Governor said security agencies are investigating the matter, maintaining that stealing of public funds won’t be tolerated.
Otti also disclosed that he has directed the Abia State Accountant General to pay the retirement benefits of disengaged Permanent Secretaries.
On security, he said that Governors of the South East are still collaborating on how best to tackle insecurity challenges in the region.
He promised to investigate the allegations of extortions of transporters by a group of security agents operating as Mobile Court along the Abia State section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.