Unpaid Severance: 42 appointees of former Anambra gov. die in 2 years
Former aides of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, have asserted that no fewer than 42 of their members have passed away within two years of leaving their positions due to non-payment of their severance package.
During a meeting in Awka, the former state government employees appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to their aid to prevent further deaths among their ranks.
“42 former appointees have died without receiving their severance packages, and their families are currently suffering without assistance,” they stated.
After observing a minute’s silence for their departed colleagues, they pledged to strengthen the forum and indicated that they would use the platform to inform Governor Soludo that the former appointees are a strong and reliable force upon which he can depend.
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They also reminded the governor that the former political appointees played a significant role in securing the 21/21 mandate that Governor Willie Obiano received in the 2017 election. They emphasized that the governor could leverage their support during the 2025 governorship election.
However, the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, who was a former political appointee under Obiano, encouraged the former aides not to lose hope but to have faith in God.
He pointed out that even Governor Soludo was a former appointee of Obiano, and thus there was no reason to be alarmed.
It was, however, gathered that the former appointees might not be successful in their campaign for severance allowance due to the lack of a formal contract between them and the state government.
“A severance allowance is only paid if it is stipulated in the contract or appointment letter of the appointee by the employer. I’m not sure such contractual provisions were included in the appointment papers of Obiano’s appointees,” a source commented.