Nigeria: Dickson’s aide resigns over non-payment of salaries

Dickson

Chief Chinedu Mba, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seriake Dickson on Non-indigenes, has resigned his appointment citing non-payment of his salaries and allowances for over a year.



His resignation was said to have caused panic in the Government House following fears that the action could negatively affect non-indigenes’ support for Dickson’s re-election bid.

Mba, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Association of Non-Indigene in Bayelsa State (ANBS), played a key role in the governor’s victory in the 2012 poll.

He led hundreds of non-indigenes on a road march for Dickson and later convinced them to vote for the governor.

But Mba in his letter of resignation obtained by The Nation said he faced intimidation, oppression and unfair treatments in the over three years he served the governor.

He said his travails were masterminded by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, whom he accused of levelling unfounded allegations against him.

He said no memo was approved for his office within the period he worked for the government.

In the letter dated September 14 and addressed to the governor, Mba said: “Since l was appointed till date, l had suffered intimidation, oppression, unfair treatments and unfounded allegations always leveled against me without proof from the office of the SSG.

“My salaries and allowances were not paid for over one year. My official car, Hyndai Accent, with registration number AO 115 BY were seized. All these unfair treatments are coming from the office of the SSG.

“Despite all the mistreatment, I still worked hard for the restoration government. As a non-indigene leader, I kept mobilising non-indigenes for the second term ambition of the governor hoping that all these issues will be addressed.”

Mba said he wrote many letters to the governor reporting his travails but to no avail, adding that he saw no reason to continue working for the government.

He, however, thanked the governor for giving him an opportunity to serve the state.