The governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has pardoned all the political appointees, whose October salaries, he placed on hold as a result of their coming late to a state function on Monday.
The political appointees included his deputy chief of staff, commissioners, special advisers and council chairmen.
Governor Dave, who announced the suspension of the salaries on the occasion of a school debate organised to mark the 55th independence anniversary of the country, said it was wrong of the appointees to come late to the event.
The event also marked the 19th anniversary of the creation of Ebonyi State.
Apart from the forfeiture of their October salaries, the governor also stopped the September allowances of the appointees.
A mild drama ensued outside the venue of the event as the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh, was locked out – a few minutes after the governor came in.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Emma Anya, yesterday, said Umahi pardoned the appointees upon learning that most of them went to a state function and that this made them come late to the event.
The statement explained that the pardon was “in the general interest of the state and out of the large-heartedness of the state governor.”
The statement claimed that contrary to reports, the deputy governor was not locked out of the venue of the event.