…Allegations untrue, chair
Tension is brewing in the Imo Internal Revenue Services Agency over alleged underhand and illegal activities being perpetrated by the chairman, Chief Emeka Udegbulam.
According to findings the agency may soon boil over if the chairman goes ahead to implement those alleged illegal policies as workers who are likely to be affected by the action are said to be contemplating taking to the streets.
It was gathered that the chairman is presently fine tuning strategies aimed at reducing both the salary and rank of some categories of workers particularly those recruited in 2020 by the ousted IIRS boss, Justice Okoye.
Competent sources within the agency revealed that the chairman has also allegedly refused to confirm the appointment of the over two hundred Imo citizens, recruited that year via what was adjudged a transparent recruitment process.
Gov Hope Uzodinma insiders told this reporter even commended the former chairman for carrying out that free and fair process, even as they noted that since chief Emeka udegbulem came into office in April/May 2021 he has not only allegedly employed not less than 40 new persons via the back door, but has allegedly halted and reversed all his achievements.
These include alleged sitting of the confirmation of IIRS staff employed by him, even as it was learnt that he is still looking for way not do the needful even after Uzodinma had given approval to do so.
At the same time it is alleged that he is also looking for ways to reduce staff ranks and salaries so as to bring in people via the back door.
Even more damning is the allegation that while he is sitting on the file of those regularly recruited, he is going about allegedly upgrading the people who came in via the back door without aptitude test and interview.
According to insider sources that policy has polarized the office, as the workers are not happy that he is treating people who were there before him unfairly and treating those he brought in like kings.
” How can you reduce staff salaries and ranks more than a year after appointment letter and resumption and at the same planning to upgrade those who came via the backdoor, even if they came with all the qualifications in the world. Who does that? people sleeping at home and were called to come pick appointment letter?” One angry source blurted out
The sources alleged further that IIRS has taken a dive since the departure of OKoye, even as they insisted thatinstead of downsizing of both salary and number of old staff, Chief Udegbulam should focus on strengthening the agency.
When reached on phone, the chairman denied the allegations saying he is yet to start implementing report of an audit carried out by the Imo State Auditor General’s Office which touched on some of issues in contention.
