May Day Drama: Sacked Abia Workers of Imo Origin In Tears, As Pensioners lament 40 Months Unpaid Arrears

The Aggrieved Workers Rolling On The Floor

It was drama at the May Day celebration in Owerri, the Imo State capital, when sacked Abia State workers of Imo origin stormed the venue of the May Day celebration rolled on the floor and shed tears over the inability of the Imo State Government to reabsorb them into the State workforce.

The workers were sacked by Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State. His Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha assured them that they will be reabsorbed into the State workforce.


A year after that promise, nothing has come the way of the workers, a pitiable situation which forced them to storm the venue of the May Day celebration in Owerri. Most of them were in tears and rolled on the tarred floor of the freedom square as they lamented that since Rochas promised to assist them, no word has come from the State Government to that effect.  

Moved by pity, Okorocha wa said to halted his salute and match past parade and addressed the aggrieved workers.

Meanwhile, pensioners of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, renamed Orient tv have again re- echoed their non-payment of pension arrears for 40 months.

One of the pensioners who spoke to this blog on condition of anonymity however confirmed reports that they have been paid for only two months.
He said “Two months of our 40 months arrears was paid to us. This is unacceptable. The most annoying aspect of it all is that when we came to Government House to see the Governor on this issue, we were taken to the Banquet Hall and given akamu(pap), beans and porridge yam to eat. Is that our problem?   If he gives us beans and porridge yam to eat, where would I get the money to feed my family and other dependants?
While we were trying to impress it on His Excellency that we are not here for beans and pap, he insisted we must eat.  I refused to do so because that was not what brought me there. He said he never knew we were owed that much. He promised to look into it, but since then, our misery has continued”.  

Meanwhile,The Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, has congratulated workers in the state work force as they join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the International Worker’s day.
In a message to mark the day, the Speaker who described workers as the engine room of any administration also charged them to replicate their professionalism towards the realization of the goals and aspirations of the present administration in the state.
Rt. Hon. Uwagumogu however stated, that as indispensable elements in any government, relevant stake holders in all sectors of the economy, must strive to ensure that the welfare of their employees are not treated with levity.
He also re-affirmed the state government’s desire towards running worker’s friendly administration, maintaining that relevant laws enunciated by the State House of Assembly been instrumental to the basic rights which workers in the state currently enjoy.
The Speaker further enjoined them to reciprocate the efforts of the Rescue Mission government in the state through improved productivity, while shunning those acts capable of jeopardizing their call to service.