Delta Assembly Lawmaker Onwo’s Private Secretary Resigns Due To Salary Deduction Dispute

Prince Enahoro Erijoh, Private Secretary of former Major Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly and current member representing Isoko South II, Hon. Chief Ferguson Onwo’s, has tendered his resignation after serving in the role for the past five years.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) understands that Erijoh resigned from his position due to irreconcilable differences between him and his boss over his remuneration.

In a resignation letter which was leaked on social media, Prince Erijoh expressed his gratitude to his former boss for the opportunity to work with him but cited the lack of resolution regarding his salary as the primary reason for his resignation.

Erijoh alleged that he was consistently remitting a significant portion of his monthly salary to Onwo, thus making his own income insufficient to support his immediate family, especially given the current economic realities.

According to Erijoh, he had previously requested that his salary remain untouched, as stated in a note sent to Chief Ferguson Onwo in June 2023.

The letter reads: “I however wish to resign my appointment due to our irreconcilable differences on my renumeration which you have failed to address over these years and has resulted in my inability to cater for my immediate family, especially in the present economic realities.

“Sir, you know that out of the #250k per month that I was paid all through the 7th Assembly (June 2019 – May 2023), I remitted #130k to you monthly. At the inception of this dispensation, I sent the attached note of 21-06-2023 to you requesting that my salary be untampered with, if you will still need my services which you consented to.

“On the payment of the 9 months arrears from July 2023 – March 2024, I am surprised that you are attempting to revisit our earlier agreement not to tamper with my monthly salary and that you can only accommodate an increment of my monthly stipend from the #120k/month all through the 7th Assembly to #150k/month in this current 8th Assembly, even in the face of the current economic hardship and realities. Sir, I consider not commensurate with my volume of work with you, thus this resignation”, he wrote.

Prince Erijoh however, expressed optimism that his departure would create an opportunity for others to be empowered in his former role. He also expressed hope for a more suitable appointment in the broader political landscape.

The resignation letter was copied to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Delta State, the Chief of Staff (CoS) of Delta State, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Chief Solomon Ogba, and the Chairman of the Delta Rescue Network (DRN).

In a spontaneous reaction, Onwo dismissed the allegations, saying the allegation were unfounded and misconceived.

Onwo, who reacted through one of his aides, Ofrokor Pedro, according to report in Sahara Reporters said, “I’m writing to you in respect to a message you sent to my boss, Hon Ferguson Onwo yesterday seeking clarification on his private secretary, Prince Enahoro Erijo’s resignation over alleged salary deduction of N130,000 from his monthly salary of N250,000.

“Hon Ferguson never deducted N130,000 from the account of his private secretary, rather the remittance from other statutory aides were sent to him (Prince Enahoro) to enable him pay salaries to the rest of the political aides to the honourable member whom he appointed from the different wards.”