Imo State Government Renovate Owerri For Xmas Celebrations, As Residents, Workers Groan Over Cash Squeeze, Unpaid Wages

BY: ANTHONIA UDOCHI

OKOROCHA

Amidst cash squeeze in Imo State over unpaid wages to several workers by the State Government, the city of Owerri has lately witnessed increased renovation for the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The opposition had accused the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha of setting aside the sum of N600 million naira to decorate the city for the yuletide.

 Emeka Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 election, had accused the State Government of insensitivity by neglecting the state workforce who have been denied salaries for several months and rather choose to spend the state resources on frivolities.

Our correspondent, however observed that the city is on the verge of wearing a new look as work has commenced in strategic locations to decorate the city for the yuletide.

This has attracted mixed reactions from the populace.

A civil servant, John Onuoha told INNONEWS that the State Government is simply punishing the workers for reasons they could not understand.

“We heard N600 million has budgeted to decorate the city for xmas when there are workers who have not received their salaries for over 9 months. This is man’s inhumanity to man.

“We are groaning over this hardship and our governor considers the beauty of the city to our welfare. This is absurd.

Ernest Anuyo, a trader said there is nothing wrong  decorating the city for the Christmas and New Year festivities  but when workers are not paid and there is cash squeeze in the State, the governor should have channeled the funds used in the decoration to settle workers and pensioners arrears.

“This is may turn out to be a bleak Christmas for workers in Imo State except salaries are promptly paid.  A case where someone is owed ten months and given one month salary is unacceptable.

INNONEWS learnt that many workers in the State still remain largely unpaid for several months despite N26 billion naira the State received from the bail- out funds released to some states of the federation by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The State Government had embarked on concessioning of parastatals and agencies to private hands, a move strongly resisted by the workers who see it as a ploy to sack them.