The Acting Comptroller-General of the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV), Mr. Constance Obinna Eke is now on the run following the protest organized by the officials of the Authority on Monday.
No fewer than one hundred (100) staff of the TIMARIV converged at their secretariat, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. The entrance to the office was sealed off by the angry staff.
Several placards with different inscriptions were pasted on the main gate of the office. Some of the placards displayed read thus: “SSCE heads BSC/MSC in TIMARIV”, “We are not anti-government”, Eke must go”, “Eke asked pregnant women to resign”, “Eke is a fraudster” “TIMARIV cannot fund itself” and so many others.
Speaking to newsmen, the chairman of the TIMARIV chapter of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Comrade Igenewari Ketuphel called for an immediate removal of the Acting Controller General, Mr. Eke. According to him, Mr. Eke does not have the interest of the authority at heart.
Comrade Ketuphel accused the embattled Acting Controller-General of witch hunting the officials of the TIMARIV chapter of the AUPCTRE by allegedly sent thugs and hoodlums after them so as to unleash mayhem on them.
He alleged that the “run-away” controller-General failed to pay the four (4) month salary owed the workers of the Authority.
“Mr. Eke just paid the 4 months salary indiscriminately. Some staff he gave them one month, some two months and others three months. What kind of salary payment is that? Comrade Ketuphel asked rheritorically.
The TIMARIV staff further called for the removal of the Head, Human Resources, Gift Egboh. They also demanded the review of the unlawful dismissal of the officers of the Authority and “those that were made to resign under duress”.
“Mr. Eke, the so call Controller General is a very wicked administrator. He asked pregnant women to resign. This is the wickedness of the highest order,” Comrade Ketuphel alleged.
He also requested the refund of staff salaries that were illegally deducted and called for a comprehensive staff audit and the immediate investigation of the Mr. Confidence Obinna Eke led administration.
The staff of the authority who passed vote of no confidence on the Acting Controller-General and accused him of building palatial houses and estates within and outside Port Harcourt.
They pleaded with the state government to appoint an ex-military or paramilitary officer to handle the affairs of the TIMARIV.
All efforts to reach out to the embattled Controller-General, Mr. Eke failed as he refused to pick his calls. ###
