Ex-staff of the defunct Manilla Insurance Company Limited, Cross River State, who are of AkwaIbom State origin have called on Governor GodswillAkpabio to remedy their plights by paying them their due terminal benefits and absorb those still eligible to work into the state civil service, as agreed when the state was carved out of Cross River in 1987.
Making the plea in a chat with newsmen in Uyo, the Chairman, Manilla Committee, Comrade Joseph S. Ekanem, stated that since the creation of the state, they have been agitating for the anomaly to be rectified but their efforts have always been futile.
According to him, “Eighty percent of the work force at Manilla Insurance was AkwaIbom indigenes. When the company was liquidated, the Cross River State Government absorbed her people into the civil service but as for AkwaIbom, the story is different as successive governments have refused listen to our plights.”
Continuing, Ekanem noted that on the eve of the creation of AkwaIbom state, both governments (Cross River and AkwaIbom) agreed to inherit both the company’s assets and liabilities related to their respective domains, and expressed dismay that the state government have instead inherited their assets and abandoned the liabilities.
He further listed assets of the defunct company now under the control of the state government, to include: Manilla House, Uyo, now called Anchor House, 5/7 Aka Road, Uyo; 375 KVA Industrial Generator; Bungalow located No. 52 Barracks Road, Uyo; Landed property at ItiamEwet Housing Estate, Uyo.
Speaking further, he revealed that the company also had shares in Champion Breweries plc; Peacock Paints Industries Ltd., Etinan; Quality Ceramics Ltd, Itu; International Biscuit Ltd., IkotEkpene; Sunshine Batteries Ltd., IkotEkpene; Qua Steel Products Ltd., Eket; and Co-operative Development Bank, Uyo (now First City Monument BankFCMB). According to him, the dividends of such shares were enjoyed by the government.
On efforts made so far to rectify the situation, Comrade Ekanem noted that they written letters to several quarters, including: The Public Complaints Commission, The Speaker, AkwaIbom State House of Assembly, Elder Sam Ikon; Chairman, Committee on Labour and Productivity (AKHA), Hon. AyangAkanimoAyang; Chairman, Committee on Judiciary and Public Petition (AKHA), Hon. Ekong Sampson.
He, however, disclosed that “The former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan through the present Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. NseEkefre set up a committee to look into our matter. The commissioner have done their jobs, they invited us for screening in the month of March 2012. After the screening, the Commissioner for Finance sent the report of the committee to the Head of Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien have processed and forwarded the committee report to the governor on October 2012 for approval and implementation but up till now the approval has not been given.”
While providing relevant documents to back up his claims, Ekanem called for a quick solution to the impasse, as over 20 colleagues of his that attended the screening exercise have died even as he revealed that the Secretary of the Manilla Committee died in an auto crash in Calabar.
Describing Governor Akpabio as an uncommon achiever who has transformed the state beyond expectations, he expressed belief that the lingering issue would be settled amicably.
please those children the parent is late now should be be consider in dis process
ReplyDelete07062971761
Delete