State Secretariat Complex Going/ Political Appointees To Forfeit 25% salaries, workers 1% To Imo Foundation.
In what would appear a novel idea but unknown practice in governance, various ministries and government parasatals occupying the modern state secretariat complex on Port Hacort Road, Owerri Imo state capital may soon vacate their respective offices to give way for privatization of the multi-million naira office blocks.
If reports reaching the newspaper are anything to go by, The unfolding events will see the various ministries and relevant paratals allocated a virgin land to erect a new office blocks, Indications that the earlier plan by the Rochas Okorocha led administration to privatize the State secretariat complex would be a reality have emerged after an exclusive meeting between the state government and key civil service functionaries in the state. Imo Trumpeta reliably gathered at the end of the meeting that the present government was up beat about allocating lands to the various ministries to build a new office complex to enable government go ahead with the planned privatization of the state secretariat complex.
It would be recalled that the state Governor had in an earlier interactive session with state workers at the Ahiajoku centre; New Owerri, muted the idea building a new office block to enable government privatize the secretariat complex. Okorocha’s view was however rejected with shouts of no! from the workers forcing the Governor to retreat with the policy.
Other signs that civil servants may be sacked from the state secretariat is a reported statement by Governor Okorocha which was widely published by some local media that the ministry of Culture and Tourism would move its head office to Oguta, where the ministry has Oguta Blue Lake of Treasure Hotel. By moving out from the PortHacourt Road secretariat to Oguta,
Government would have the chance to hand over the offices previously occupied by Culture and Tourism ministry to a private operator. The new Judicial offices building on the Umuguma/Hospital Road, currently undergoing construction when completed would solve the accommodation problem of staffers of office of the Attorney General and commissioner for Justice.
In the same vanother major issue likely to be implemented is, political appointees and civil servants in the state being asked to fully buy into the Rescue Mission programme by forgetting part of their monthly allowances and salaries to the Imo Foundation.
While political appointees will forgo 25%, civil servants will also sacrifice 1% to support the state government lofty welfarist programmes.
When contacted on plune on the planned deduction of one percent of workers salaries to service Imo Foundation;
The NLC Chairman said that the state government has no right to deduct any amount from workers salaries without formal agreement and knowledge of the workers adding that the top echelon of workers comprising permanent secretaries, and Directors have no right to speak on behalf of the state work force.
