The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has expressed reservation over the #40,000 minimum wage proposed for civil servants in the state by the Governor Hope Uzodinma at a stakeholders meeting at Rockview Hotel, Owerri on Saturday.
The party, in a release signed by its Acting Publicity Secretary, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, doubted the sincerity of the state government towards actualizing the proposal which it described as a Greek gift aimed at hoodwinking the civil servants ahead of the Governorship election scheduled to hold in the state on November, 11, 2023.
The release dated July, 16, 2023, reads, “The lmo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic party notes with hysteria the Greek gift of N40,000 minimum wage, proposed for state civil servants by the governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma at a stakeholders meeting in the Rockview Hotel, Owerri on Saturday.
“Much as we join the workers to celebrate the said palliative, we still have our reservations about the eventual faithfulness in executing the package.
“Experience they say is the best teacher and from general experience, Senator Hope Uzodinma will always find it difficult to honour his words, so, cannot be trusted when it comes to keeping promises.
“We therefore implore our dear lmo workers to always devise a plan B when dealing with the so called shared prosperity administration. This is necessary inorder to save one from unnecessary embarrassments and shocks of an eventual failure, when it comes. The administration does not believe in the basic tenets of management. As far as it is concerned, the end justifies the means. .
“As a matter of concern, it is pertinent to state that lmo workers and pensioners have really passed a lot of trauma in the hands of APC administrations. First it was the Rescue mission armageddon that lasted from 2011 to 2019, eight miserable years of sordid experience. Coming out from the despicable experience of the Rescue mission, the Uzodinma palaver emerged from nowhere, with brazen breaches of basic administrative rules. This has been the situation in the state till date.
“On assumption of office in 2020, Senator Hope Uzodinma undertook series of verification exercises which subjected both workers and pensioners to very harsh and devastating conditions that took a toll from them. There were cases where aged pensioners were manhandled by hired thugs for no just cause. It is also sad to note that several workers and pensioners whose salaries and pensions were stopped since 2020 have not been paid for three years running, yet they go to work on daily basis.
“Today, Uzodinma is busy canvassing for a second term into Douglas house. What is the assurance that if he succeeds, he will not embark on another retrenchment from the back door. We therefore advise lmo workers and pensioners to discountenance all overtures by him to get back to Douglas house come November 11.
“On the 1st day of May, 2022, during lmo workers day celebration, Gov Uzodinma in his usual deceit, announced some welfare packages for workers, among them were promotions and increase of minimum wage to N30,000. It would shock to know that uptill date, no worker in the state has received this package. Again, he has come with another abracadabra(sic) in the name of subsidy removal palliative. Who is fooling who?
“Talking about palliative, lmo workers and indeed the generality of lmolites are still wondering the whereabout of the state consignment of COVID 19 palliative. Till date, no account of the package has been made. They simply developed wings and flew into the thin air.
“It is our fervent prayer that the lmo APC government should stop playing unnecessary pranks with the sensibility of workers. It is callous to raise hopes of helpless workers with phantomic mouth watering packages that will never come.
“On our part as a major opposition party, we pledge to continue in our avowed agreement to protect and partner with you to make lmo safe again. Our social contract with you suffices and will get stronger with time”.
