By victor madumere
t was a disappointing event on Wednesday for the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha as Imo workers shunned his purported Christmas Dinner Party organized for them at the Hero’s Square.
The program which was billed to start by 7.00pm took more than two hours before starting, as the organizers had no other option than to send vehicles into the town and nearby communities to hire APC leaders and members without the usual white and with black suit and red tie to avert monumental embarrassment to the government. Some of the staff responded accordingly and were brought to the square on buses.
Addressing, the acclaimed rented crowd of Imo workers the Governor rolled out numerous promises, which include Twelve thousand naira (N12,000) Christmas bonus to Imo workers and Ten thousand naira (N10,000) for federal workers serving in various establishments in Imo State. He also declared 20th December, 2013 to 5th January, 2014 work free days for the workers to enjoy their Christmas. Gov Okorocha used the opportunity to assure the workers on the payment of their seized allowances in 2014.
It will be recalled that the workers have been crying over the denial of the leave allowances, overtime and other statutory incentives by Okorocha.
Speaking to Journalists, a cross section of Imo Civil Servants rejected the gift as they averred that withdrawal of ban on overtime is political and a campaign strategy. They submitted that his predecessor, Ohakim never owed them their leave allowances, over time, DTA, medical refund, as he also appreciated them with rice, cow, tomatoes, groundnut oil in addiction with cash during festivals.
Other promises made at the event include, Two hundred thousand naira (N200,000), to over Six hundred (600) communities, rice and cow to all traditional rulers, two Prado Jeeps to retiring head of service and a plot of land around Concorde Hotel area.
The Governor went further to say that he wants to be addressed as Senior Advocate of the Masses an acronym given to the late human right activist, Gani Fawehimi by the Nigerian masses for his sincerity in the defense of human right.
In the same vein, disengaged workers of Imo Concorde Hotel Owerri have taken their plight to security agencies in the state by calling on them to prevail on the state Government to pay them their allowances and entitlements.
This is contained in their communiqué after a meeting in Owerri on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 to review the continued failure of the state government to pay them their entitlements as agreed few months ago.
The communiqué which was signed by the principal assistant Secretary, Hotels Union, Imo State, Comrade Austine Chilakpu recalled that the state government in an earlier meeting agreed to pay their five months unpaid service charges and other entitlements on or before 20th December, 2013.
According to the statement, “That they agreed with the management of Imo Concorde Hotel, in the presence of the police, SSS and the workers union that 5 (five) months unpaid service charge, 3 (three) months unpaid salary, 8 (eight) months unpaid service charge to union and 8 (eight) months check off dues be paid on or before 20th December, 2013 and if the management of Concorde fails to pay on or before 20th December as agreed, the Union workers will take any action they deem necessary”.
The statement further has it that the notice to both the government and security agencies is to forestall any unforeseen consequences that may arise because of the failure of the parties to stick to the agreement.
In another development, there is uneasy calm in the Ministry of Education, especially the Secondary Education Management Board, SEMB, where teachers are protesting the promotion exercise conducted in the establishment and released recently.
Trumpeta learnt that the disaffection in the rank and file of the workers came as a result of promotion of Grade level 15 of officials of 2008 cadre, made school principals and promoted to level 16 whereas those of 2006 were ignored and left in their positions.
Most of those in level 15 of 2006 set who were not affected in the promotion exercise have raised alarm and petitioned the Imo State House of Assembly over the anomaly and omission.
It was gathered that nepotism and illegalities characterized the exercise where those due for promotion were shunned whereas those who conducted the promotion allegedly favoured their cronies and family relations. To worsen the situation, few persons who were not qualified and due for retirement were also considered for the promotion at the detriment of qualified persons.
What however irked the workers was that those who got their last promotion by 2008 were again promoted while those of 2006 remained untouched. It was further gathered that the trend has continued in SEMB where some teachers are favoured than others in terms of promotion as some have remained in same grade and level for more than eight years.
Efforts to reach one Mr Okolie who is said to be the Director of Finance and Administration, DAF, acting in place of the Executive Secretary proved abortive as his phone rang several times without response. Same applies to the commissioner for education in charge of Primary and Post Primary Education who could not pick her calls.
