….Submits Report to Governor Uzodimma
By Baron Ike
The Committee on Verification of Staff and Salaries of the Unified Local Government Councils in Imo State has turned in a damning report that shows that padding of salaries of workers and illegal recruitment of workers was a pastime for a syndicate and cabals that have been operating over thge years.
Governor Hope Uzodimma received the report submitted from the committee on Wednesday and assured that the era of sharp practices in the local government system is gone finally under his administration.
Receiving the report at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri, Wednesday, Governor Uzodimma said the verification became necessary as a result of what was observed at the inception of his administration, where 85 per cent of Local Government fund was spent on payment of salaries of workers with nothing more to show at the Councils by way development.
He commended the Committee for living up to expectation of submitting the report on record time, noting that government will only pay those that have employment history and actually working for her.
Governor Uzodimma emphasized that no amount of brigandage by any group of persons will stop the government from doing the right thing, adding that “government will drop as many as possible on the local government payroll that are not working for government.”
In addition, the Governor reinstated his earlier stand on the automation of all workers salaries in Imo State. He said that “no worker in Imo State will, any longer, receive double salaries.” He warned that those old days and ways are over and there must be sanity in the system.
Presenting their report earlier, the Chairman of the Committee on Verification of Staff and Salaries of the Unified Local Government Councils in Imo State, Mrs. Rosemary Izuogu who is also the Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Civil Service Commission of Imo State, pointed out a lot of rot in the management and administration of Local Governments in the state.
She informed that their discoveries were worrisome and ugly, ranging from salary padding, amounting to N9 million and above in a single LGA, and some workers receiving double salaries per month, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku.
She advised on the need to solve the hydra-headed problems discovered in the process of the verification, noting that a syndicate and cabals have been there for a very long time.
Mrs. Izuogu said that her Committee uncovered many workers who ought to have retired but are still working, as well as many illegal recruitment exercises which have resulted in resources being wasted on people who are not workers, but always come to demand for salaries.
She thanked the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve and assist in bringing up the report that will help the current government in Imo State anchored on Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor of Imo State Prof. Placid Njoku, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu; the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, and other members of the State Executive Council.