The Abia State Government has ordered an immediate stop to the payment of application fees of N1,000 for employment by the state Local Government Service Commission.

“We wish to state that the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, did not approve any such payment meant for processing of the application for employment or conduct of employment tests,” the State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, said in a statement issued on Tuesday in Umuahia.

“Government hereby directs that such payment be stopped immediately and all those who have paid should be refunded by the Local Government Service Commission,” the statement added.