The economic misfortune befalling the country following drop in oil price at the global level is beginning to take its tool in Imo State.
Apart from nonpayment of salaries to civil servants and pensioners in the state, another stringent measure being applied to survive the hardship is planned sack of workers even as governor Okorocha was said to have declared intention to scrap some parasatals in the state due to their non-viability status.
Trumpeta investigation revealed that some heads of government establishments have began to shortlist names of staff penciled for termination of their appointment. The new move is sequel to a crucial meeting heads of parasatals and ministries had with the governor over the poor state of finance of the state.
It was gathered that part of the survival strategies to be adopted by the government agencies is reduction of the workforce. The plot is to surreptitiously ease out some employees through several fronts. All those with alleged disciplinary records, suspected illegal appointments and age discrepancies will be used as sacrificial victims of the worsening economic meltdown.
Already, some government agencies have penciled down targeted victims for retrenchment and possible sack in line with the spirit of the meeting with the governor.
In the same vein, the state government is also working on modalities to scrap about five parasatals in the state workforce.
Though no official statement has been made on the matter but authoritative sources who were part of the meeting noted that agencies like the state wing of the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, Imo Orientation Agency and Imo water Corporation will be rested to save cost.
