BY CHRISTIAN OKERE
Some workers of the Imo State civil service, who lament that they have not been paid salaries for some months have resolved to go spiritual, by embarking on fasting and prayers.
Reason for the prayers is predicated on calling on God to touch the heart of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, to pay them.
The Imo State government has continued to insist that it has paid workers in the state, arguing that those who claimed not to have received their monthly pay failed to submit their Biometric verification number, BVN.
Despite the stance of the state government, some workers still claim that they have not been paid for some months, stating that the last time they were paid was in February.
The issue of payment of workers salary in the state has been a contentious one.
A broadcaster, Vivian Ottih, was suspended by the state owned Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, for demanding payment of her salaries on social media. Several appeals to the state government made by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo State chapter, and other groups, calling for her reinstatement has been rebuffed by the state government.
One of the workers who claimed that she has not been paid revealed that “they have resolved to go spiritual, by going on fasting and prayer, to call on God to touch the Governor’s heart to pay them.The Governor is a human being. He may mean well for the state but he has to understand that all these claims that workers have been paid is not totally correct.
“Many of us have not been paid, including some of us who have submitted our BVN, which is the latest requirement of the state government, before salaries are paid.
“When Okorocha was Governor, we submitted our BVN. We also did so during Ihedioha’s period, we were paid. Now we have given out our BVN and yet we have not received anything.
There are reports that the state government is contemplating downsizing the state work force.
Governor Hope Uzodinma, had in his speech to mark his 100 days in office, said the State government uncovered fraud i payment of salaries of workers, thus his administration saves N2billion naria monthly after uncovering the fraud.
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