Various groups and individuals in Owerri, Friday kicked against comments credited to the Imo State government which threatened to arrest protesting teachers and workers in the state.
Primary and secondary school teachers in the state on Thursday took to the streets of Owerri, the state capital, demanding for their 12 months unpaid salary arrears.
The protesters numbering over 300 stormed the government house, Owerri with their employment details and placards
Reacting to threat of arrest of the protesting teachers, an Owerri based public policy analyst, Prince Vincent Ufommadu told INNONEWS that the threat is needless and uncalled for, urging the state government to rather take actions to address the complaints and plight of the teachers”
A watchdog, Imo Awareness Coalition, IAC said the threat does not portray the state government in good light.
Spokesman of the Coalition, Fidelis Echendu said the state government “should once and for all, sort out the lingering issue of unpaid salaries to workers and teachers in the state.
“These protests are portraying the state government in bad light. I wonder why 14 months after this administration came on board, it is still saddled with the task of payment and non payment of salaries to workers and teachers. If the Governor said he has paid all workers and some people are still protesting over non payment despite showing evidence of valid employment, then something is wrong somewhere. Something is definitely amiss” Echendu said
Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, had described the protesting teachers as ghost workers mixed with hired crowd by enemies of the government to misinform the public.
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