WHY IMO CIVIL SERVANTS ARE THE SADDEST IN NIGERIA

DDM NEWS

There is a saying that a worker deserves his or her wages. I believe the Bible made the same assertion.

In Imo state today, serving or retired civil servants are sad and always complaining of being short-changed any time a discussion is opened on the plight of workers in Nigeria.

They are quick to remember the good old days in Imo state, during the administrations of Chief Achike Udenwa and largely Dr. Ikedi Ohakim.

The said workers in Imo State had the best of time then.
Don’t ask me how? The table became undulating during the time of Rochas Okorocha administration.

Many things were introduced and bureaucracy started wearing off.

Civil servants became like chickens to the politicians who started throwing maize to them.

Number of working days reduced. Compulsory Christmas holidays were introduced.

At a point in time payment of salary became problematic. Salaries were reduced and so many other workers unfriendly policies came to be the norm.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Comrade Ayuba Waba, had to come to Owerri then to enforce payment of Salaries. The NLC picketing did not yield useful gains as it was rumoured that the leadership of NLC was compromised.

There came a ray of hope when Emeka Ihedioha seven months administration was in place.
Unfortunately, what seemed like a return to normalcy in civil service bureaucratic system ended abruptly.

At the inception of Governor Hope Uzodinma, during his maiden speech, civil servants welfare occupied the centre spread of that ceremony at Heroes square in Owerri that day.

However, since the past five years of the 3R government of Senator Hope Uzodinma, Imo workers have been complaining and distraught all the way…

According to a cross section of Imo workers, this administration is a “government of no hope” for civil servants.

Some say their problems started when the government introduced verification exercise to counter the verification process conducted by the Ihedioha 7 months administration.

Many workers were tagged ghost workers. Names were obliterated from payroll. Confusion took over. Payroll and scheduling were contracted out to a consultant who muddled up the whole system.

The minimum wage of #30,000, investigation revealed, was not fully implemented or paid to Imo workers. The back and forth in negotiations created many troubles.

Labour unions in state were said to have been disintegrated by government agents to create loopholes in the administration of Labour unions against speaking with one voice.

Promotions are delayed for years, and even when released, some of them claim it has not been backed with cash.

The non payment of #30,000 minimum wage attracted the attention of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to compel Governor Hope Uzodinma to pay minimum wage to Imo state workers.

The visit of the NLC led by it’s President Joe Ajaero, ended in a fiasco as the President of Nigeria Labour Congress was beaten up by some persons suspected to be government agents.

The barbaric action dented the image of the state and forced labour to embark on nationwide strike.
One may ask, what were the benefits of all the efforts by Labour to secure payment of minimum wage to their members in Imo state?

It may interest you that the beneficiary of the whole hullabaloo by NLC may be Mr.Joe Ajaero as he abandoned the struggle and apparently mended fences with Imo state government.

Today, the road leading to Ajaeros house off Owerri-Umuahia road has been tarred… and The Governor graced the wedding of Ajaero’s child. But the #30,000 MW matter in Imo was never resolved nor was it paid.

Imo was yet to start enjoying N30,000 minimum wage when President Bola Tinubu approved the current #70,000 minimum wage.

Though Imo workers were jubilant like their colleagues across the country, some of them already can guess what their fate would be.
Though there have been differentials in salaries, but many of the workers claim that they don’t know what parameters are used in arriving at the payment they receive.

Some claim it was based on #18,000 -minimum wage since #30,000 minimum wage was never implemented.

Further investigations revealed that the welfare of workers under the present administration is nothing to write home about, and with the high cost of living, civil servants cannot afford a decent life.

Recently, towards the end of May, a bag of rice was shared among 5 to 7 staff. That’s palliative, Imo government style.

In the last promotion exercise conducted for permanent Secretary positions, it was a theatre of the absurd as junior staff were selected above senior directors as permanent Secretaries.

It was such a macabre dance when junior officers suddenly found themselves heading their seniors.

The situation in the state judiciary is a typical example. A Junior Judge was nominated against several seniors, and it took the intervention of the National Judicial Commission to correct the anomaly.

The Imo state NLC branch officials say they are afraid to confront government over these discrepancies for the fear of their lives.

It’s also said that Comrade Austin Chilakpo, the SA to the governor, and one time union leader, is one of the biggest problems the state chapter of NLC is having.

One believes Governor Hope Uzodinma is not being properly guided in matters concerning civil servants welfare and bureaucratic practices and culture.
Bureaucracy is the soul of the civil service.

Once it is discarded or disrupted, it is often difficult to correct. The service becomes disorganised and disjointed creating a backlash that may be difficult to correct.

These days, governors in Nigeria are quick to employ aides who override and sidetrack ministries as well as supersede the commissioners and permanent Secretaries.

There’s no gainsaying that this is a dangerous trend that has been damaging the service bureaucracy over the years. This explains why the civil service seems not to be doing anything any longer.

This is a clarion call on Governor Uzodinma to take a good look at the affairs of Imo civil servants. The news from the grapevine is that Imo workers are not happy!

Let there be no human glitch that will dent the reputation of the Imo government.

***Tony Madu, was Manager News, NTA.

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