by kingsely amaechi
The diminishing image of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was further confirmed at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, venue of last weekend’s National Immigration Service, NIS, recruitment exercise, when he attempted to convert it to a campaign ground to advocate his achievements so far.
In what sounded more like a surprise package, the multitude of applicants at the Dan Anyiam Stadium booed Governor Okorocha on arrival to the main bowl of the stadium when the NIS recruitment took place
The aggrieved youths supposedly made up of the sacked 10,000 jobs beneficiaries Okorocha shoved aside when he came into power because they were products of the last government, not only heralded the governor with boos and jeers but also chorused in unison “give us our work” back at the recruitment venue.
A bewildered Okorocha who could not stomach the attack however sought for soft landing having encountered enough embarrassment from the intemperate job-seeking youths by addressing the aggrieved youths when he was granted audience.
To save his face and seek fresh attention from the crowd, Okorocha explored the gathering of the youths that were not less than 7,000, to campaign about successes when he reeled out his achievements and plans for unemployed graduates in the state.
The governor, who experienced disappointment over the alarming rate of unemployed youths at the arena, disclosed that his administration is making spirited efforts through “youth must work” programme to tackle unemployment in the state.
Governor Okorocha disclosed that he had arrived the stadium from the Heroes Square complex where he met with over 15,000 teachers employed by the state government through the “youth must work” programme, stating also that next week will be the turn for Civil Servants and Local government workers.
He further disclosed that an estimated 26,620 employments have been created through “youth must work” programme adding that forms for the employment must be filled by applicants so as to minimize unemployment in the state.
Speaking on the NIS Recruitment Examination, the Governor re-iterated the commitment of NIS officials in the state with the desire to conduct a hitch free and successful exercise, stressing that Imo state indigenes must have their fair share to complete their quota in the pay-roll of the federal service. He assured applicants that he will charge the NIS to take more candidates applicants from Imo state, by urging applicants to co-operate with NIS officers for a successful exercise.
Meanwhile, Imo state recorded no casualties before and after the exams against what was obtained in other areas. The Imo State exercise however turned sour when question papers arrived and was not evenly distributed by some officers. Gun shots were fired onto into the air as scramble for question papers gradually turned into a free for-all. Only applicants who got the questioners only wrote the exam
It could be recalled that NIS in Imo state earlier informed our source of an intending accreditation for applicants which never took place due to a nationwide broad-cast that ensured all state participating take a new examination date.
Meanwhile, a fresh dimension is being introduced in the Imo State Civil Service with the administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha providing jobs for graduates of the state under temporary arrangement.
The ongoing exercise is a far departure from the past procedure in the state workforce especially during the immediate past regime where Okedi Ohakim government allowed numerous youths to get civil service job with the attendant privileges under the 10,000 job scheme.
Processes for the casualisation of new intakes into the teaching cadre and other government workforce reached advanced stages last weekend as appointees of Okorocha and ranking civil servants comprising mainly of permanent secretaries were at the Heroes Square Complex to meet the numerous graduates for the exercise.
While not less than five thousand teachers for the primary and post primary schools about 2000 were available for the ministry jobs in an arrangement that is not in tune with modern employment standards as well as civil service remuneration. The decision is reminiscent of the Dark Ages of labour relations and agelong discrimination among government workers.
According to the conditions for service which Trumpeta got wind of during the verification exercise at Heroes Square, the new teachers and the new ministry staffers said to have been recruited through Community Government Council, CGC, piloted by the traditional rulers will receive monthly N20,000 excluding other entitlements, allowances and other privileges due to other employees of government.
From the arrangement, the monthly N20,000 allowance is an interim measure to reduce unemployment and state government’s response to numerous calls for lifting ban on unemployment, which Okorocha government promised to comply through the popularized “youth must work” of the Rescue Mission government.
It was gathered that the teachers who started few months ago through the CGC arrangement are yet to receive a dime from the monthly N20,000.
Government action is said to be at variance with the practice in the past where workers employed by the state are entitled to grades and levels for full benefits before confirmation. Trumpeta further learnt that unlike the disbanded 10,000 job arrangement where the workers had received some monthly salaries that are in line with civil service payment and monetary guidelines for workers in the state, the present employees are more like “casuals” and adhoc staff without job security and entitlements due to an employee of the state government. Government sources noted that they would be offered fulltime job after a year as casuals.
It would be recalled that when persistent calls for the restoration of the scrapped 10,000 job scheme intensified, Imo government flew a kite with provision of 15,000 to reduce unemployment. Even as the decision by Okorocha to scrap the policy of his predecessor is still in court, unorthodox measures were chosen to pick teachers and would-be ministry staffers through special arrangements. The casualisation policy where the newly employed workers would receive only N20,000 a month did nor go down well with the fresh intakes who are reported to be kicking against the idea.
