Drop In Imo State Revenue: Workers To Get 50% February Salary, Says Okorocha

 . Imo Gov Swears In New SSG, Eche.

  

.Ex SSG, Ejiogu Hails Successor

 BY GRACE IGWEANYI

OKORO

Workers in Imo State may be in for rough times as indications emerged today (31st March, 2016) that their February salaries may be slashed by fifty percent.

They received 70 % pay for the month of January with March and April Salaries not yet in sight.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha gave the hint when he swore in the new Secretary to Imo State Government, Mr. George Eche at Government House, Owerri.

 Eche was former Accountant General of Imo State. He is a career civil servant and until his appointment was the permanent secretary in the State Ministry of Works.

This newspaper had reported last week that Okorocha will unveil his new SSG this week.

The Governor said Labour which has been saddled with the task of paying salaries after workers strike in the State in January said the fall in the revenue in the State for the month of February is responsible for further slash in workers’ salaries.

He said “As the allocation dropped further for the month of February, the labour union in the State may only be able to pay the workers fifty percent of their salary.

“The whole thing has been able to let Imolites and the world to understand what the State has been able to do all these while. It is on record that Imo government has kept faith in the past in payment of salaries and allowance until recently when the economic situation in the country has become challenging following the outrageous looting of the resources of the country in the past” Okorocha said

The Governor called on workers of Imo State to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice because of the prevailing economic situation at the moment, urging them to show concern and understanding.

On the new SSG, he disclosed that Eche’s appointment as SSG was to bridge the gap in appointments in the State noting that in the state, Ngor Okpala, where the new he comes from, is among the most marginalized Local Government Areas in the state.

He explained that the State has the highest number of ghost workers, maintaining that despite the economic crunch his administration has set aside N3.5 billion for the job, job and factory campaign which must be agro based.

In a related development, the former Secretary to Imo State Government, Jude Ejiogu has congratulated his successor, George Eche on his appointment,

In a facebook post, Ejiogu said ”Sir George Eche is no doubt a round peg in a round hole with years of administrative experience and I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that he will diligently serve the good people of Imo State"