Workers Day: Gov Uzodimma Approves Payment of Workers’ 17yrs Check-off Dues …As Workers Endorse Him For 2nd Term

By ThankGod Emeh…

To boost the morale of workers in the spirit of Workers Day, celebrated around the world on May 1, the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has approved the payment of check-off dues for Imo pensioners and industrial workers owed since 2007 amidst commendations for sanitizing Imo civil service for greater output.

Governor Uzodimma while addressing workers at Rear Admiral Ndubusi Kanu Square, Owerri on May 1, 2023, stressed that his resolve to place the state civil service on good footing since his assumption in office was informed by “the importance of workers as the main drivers of government” while describing them as “partners, friends, brothers, and sisters”

Uzodimma added that Imo workers will have free access to medical care from a soon-to-be-launched Social Health Insurance Scheme in order to be strong and healthy while discharging their duties.

Reacting to the Second term endorsement from Imo Civil Service, Governor Uzodimma thanked Imo workers for their commitment, noting that their gesture and diligent service have provoked a good appetite for him to partner with them more for the betterment of the state.

The Governor added that workers deserve their wages to enhance productivity hence the sanity mission in the civil service under his watch to eliminate ghost workers in the system.

He however apologized to Imo workers for all inconveniences throughout the bio data capturing and sanitization period of the Imo Civil Service payroll adding that the successful completion of the validation has birthed an Automated Payroll and comprehensive Nominal Roll System for Imo workers.

“We decided to sanitise the system, in line with global best practice to rid the state’s civil service of ghost workers”

“It is rather unfortunate that some workers felt injured and inconvenienced.

“I sincerely apologise because I did not mean any harm”

The Governor stated that due gratuity payments will be paid to retirees but in cases of death, will be paid to their next of kin.

“We have a debt portfolio of over N169 billion in unpaid gratuities and pensions in Imo State since 2007. Some of these pensioners have died. They were denied having their money. The payments have started. Those that have died, we would pay to their next of kin”

Governor Uzodimma urged the workers not to fall to the whims and caprices of “third force agents who are seeking ways to truncate the programmes of the state government” while thanking people with goodwill and good conscience for contributing their individual and collective quotas for a shared prosperous Imo state.

The May Day celebration in Imo state recorded huge success with a good number of labour unions in attendance including workers’ mother union -Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others.