The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Kelechi Anosike, has promised to recall 15,000 civil servants allegedly sacked or prematurely retired by the present administration if elected governor in 2027.

Anosike made the promise on Thursday at the NUJ Press Centre in Umuahia while speaking as a guest during the monthly congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council.

The PDP candidate, who alleged that the administration of Governor Alex Otti was not implementing policies that adequately prioritised the welfare of citizens, criticised the alleged premature retirement and dismissal of workers.

He argued that workers should be allowed to serve until they attain the stipulated retirement age or years of service.

“If the rule says you will work 35 years and you retire, or 60 years; if you don’t attain those milestones, a welfarist government will not retire you. Inform those 15,000 workers that were sacked before time that Kelechi Anosike will recall all of them.

“Some of them are 50 years, some of them are 52 years. They did nothing, no query, no public inquiry, and you sack them and they are now suffering in their homes,” Anosike said.

He also criticised the Otti administration over what he described as inadequate utilisation of funds accruing from the removal of fuel subsidy.

According to him, the state government has focused heavily on road infrastructure without sufficiently addressing other immediate needs of the people.

Anosike further expressed concern over unemployment in Abia State, saying the lack of job opportunities was forcing young people to relocate to Lagos and Abuja after graduating from tertiary institutions.

He promised to tackle the challenge through industrialisation and other youth-friendly policies if elected governor.

The PDP candidate also challenged journalists in Abia State to remain critical in their coverage of government activities and hold public officials accountable.

“Journalists are the conscience of society, and not megaphones for politicians,” he said.