Okorocha orders immediate promotion of Imo workers

www.odogwublog.com reports that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State yesterday announced an automatic grade level promotion for all civil servants in the State service, even as the event was marked by a low turnout.

The celebration was devoid of the usual presence of workers as the place was scanty as many workers avoided the programme.

Okorocha made the announcement during the Workers Day celebration at the Heroes square, Owerri yesterday.

The Governor said "I will strive to put smiles on all Imo workers face and based on that, all workers except newly joined, now have automatic promotion of one grade level with immediate effect", Okorocha stated.

On the salary increment requested by the workers, the Governor said " whatever the Federal Government agrees as proposed, Imo will not be found wanting. My only appeal is don't let your salary deprive Imo people of free education and development. However, there is a lot of salary discrepancies in Imo state as a level nine officer earns over N350,000 in Ministry of Justice while the same level officer in another ministry earns about N90,000", Okorocha lamented.

He called on the workers to encourage people in the hinterlands to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) saying "Get your PVCs, you are the elites of our society, because most of you are graduates. It's important you preach the PVC gospel, only then can the solidarity songs that you sing will make sense".

Okorocha charged the workers to support his Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu who doubles as a son in-law as his successor, saying " out of my staff, Uche Nwosu is most labour friendly. There is need for you to have a government to build on the ideals of the State. I want you to make sure that you chose a candidate that will impress me", the Governor said.

Earlier, workers via the State Trade Union Congress Chairman, Comrade Paul Akalazu on behalf of Organized Labour Imo State, lamented that the State public service which used to be among the best "Is different today because the public service in the State has taken the worst hit from the recently ended national economic recession that led to certain actions and policies of Government which demoralised the workers", the workers complained.

Further, he called for " restoration of 100 percent salary payment as against 70 percent; easy payment of pensions in the State; payment of gratuities; payment of salaries to Adapalm workers; payment of arrears of salaries owed lawyers in the Ministry of Justice; payment of three months arrears of salaries to Judiciary workers; release of the promotion exercise; funding of local government councils; funding of local government service Commission; schedule of government agencies and parastatals".

Other demands include "Reversal of the three days working policy; sustenance of the free education policy; stop of political tensions in the state; and readiness to partner with government to build a virile and peaceful Imo state".