– Okorocha swears-in new aide, explains why former was sacked
– The Imo state governor expresses shock that lecturers of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Imo State University Chapter would go on strike in the second week of March over February salary
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state on Thursday, March 31, swore-in Sir George Eche as the new secretary to the state government (SSG), The Nation reports.
This comes barely two weeks to the sack of former SSG Sir Jude Ejiogu who was relieved of his duties on March 18.
According to Governor Okorocha, Eche’s appointment will bridge the gap in appointments in Imo state. Eche is from Ngor Okpala LGA and Okorocha believes the region is among the most marginalized local government areas in the state.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state on Thursday, March 31, swore-in Sir George Eche as the new secretary to the state government (SSG)
Okorocha however urged Eche to unite his people and the entire state.
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The governor expressed optimism that the new SSG will live up to expectation, stressing that his predecessor was not sacked as a result of dishonour.
Reacting shortly after, Eche promised that he would bring the needed change to the office of the Secretary to the State Government for better and expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha for finding him worthy for such position.
Speaking at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chamber in Imo state, Governor Okorocha also gave his reaction to the on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Imo State University Chapter.
The governor expressed shock that the lecturers would go on strike in the second week of March over February salary.
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He said: “It is shocking that the ASUU in IMSU told lecturers to go on strike in the second week of March because of February salary, and when they had been paid full salary for the month of January. This is shocking. It is not acceptable to the state government. ASUU in IMSU should call off the strike without delay because it was by all standards not justifiable and not advisable.
“We shall continue to keep faith with the workers welfare. If the workers in the state did not go on strike over two months’ salary owed to them, we would have continued to go out of our way to pay them full. But they went on strike over two months’ salary and we then agreed with labour that they should take seventy per cent of the total income of the state to pay salaries and pensions, while the government takes only thirty per cent for capital expenditure. And now they have seen the truth of what we have been telling them about the finances of the state.
“As the allocation dropped further for the month of February, the labour Union in the state may only be able to pay the workers fifty per cent of their salary. The whole thing has been able to let Imolites and the world to understand what the state has been able to do all these while. It is on record that Imo government has kept faith in the past in payment of salaries and allowances until recently when the economic situation in the country has become challenging following the outrageous looting of the resources of the country in the past.
“The workers of Imo state should imbibe the spirit of sacrifice because of the prevailing economic situation at the moment. They should show concern. Imo people should also show understanding. The state has the highest number of ghost workers. The government has set aside N3.5billion for the Job, Job and Factory, Factory campaign of the state government which must be agro based.”
Governor Okorocha had sacked with immediate effect Chief Jude Ejiogu.
Ejiogu who until his sack was one of the most influential functionaries in the state to become the SSG when Professor Anthony Anwukah was appointed minister of state for education.
The sack apparently came as a shock not just to Ejiogu but to many observers and functionaries of the state government.
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