It’s only a sadist that would have wished to continue observing Imo acts
not unlike a confused state. It’s no longer news that barely few weeks ago, Imo
State – the Eastern Heartland, which is invariably reckoned as a peaceful
arena, attracted the attention of not only Nigerians but the global community
owing to a misunderstanding that transpired between the government of the state
and the labour union.
The last time I checked, the dusts had settled. Of course, it’s apparent
that currently the state in question is altercation-free. The long awaited
moment was occasioned by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was duly
signed by the state government through its Solicitor General, the organized
labour, and the traders’ union (TUC) penultimate week, specifically on
Wednesday February 10, 2016.
In the MOU, which disclosed that the disengaged workers had been
reinstated and that the concession policy had been put on hold, government
stated categorically that it would source for funds to pay workers which would
be verified by the joint committee of government and the labour union. It
further stated that, government would fund its operations with not more than
thirty percent (30%) of the verified revenue for the affected month whilst the
working committee would apply the balance of seventy percent (70%) in the
settlement of salaries of public servants as well as pensioners in the state.
Now that Imo is altercation-free,
every rational entity or individual would want to realize what the future holds
for the great state. In other words, every concerned body is presently no doubt
interested in the way forward since it’s obvious that ‘after rain come shine’.
It’s in this regard that I considered it wise and ideal to come up with
this piece. Suffice it to say that this critique was informed by the need to
inform as well as advise Imolites and all the concerned parties on what is
actually expected of them, either collectively or individually, at this moment of
sober reflection that requires pensive moods. Thank God it’s happening at the
apt time – the Lent period.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the
person of Chief John Oyegun who was in Imo State on the day of the protest
staged by the NLC that led to the signing of the MOU had appealed to workers in
the state to face the reality and have a round table with the government with a
view to proffering possible solutions that would continue to unite them. Thus,
I urge the concerned groups not to do otherwise if the interest of Imo is
paramount to them.
Similarly, in his words the governor Chief Owelle Rochas Okorocha made
it known that he never sacked any worker nor owed any, but only suspended them
due to their indolence. In view of this claim, there’s no need asking the
members of the said workforce to reexamine their consciences especially at this
period of Lent. This is a period of penance, abstinence and of course total
repentance; so we are expected to embrace it in its totality.
It was the famous philosopher, Socrates of the blessed memory that said,
‘an unexamined life is not worth living’, and I assent to the aphorism. Every
sane and sincere being in Nigeria is aware of the obvious fact that truancy,
apathy, self-centredness, and what have you, are peculiar to the country’s
public service sector. To this end, I would personally like to be of help to
the government towards ensuring that the bad eggs amid the workers are fished
out without much ado. Enough is enough!
Such practices as falsification
of age, forging of promotion letter (Genre 35), lateness to duty, stealing of
government properties, filling of the payroll with ghost workers, lousiness
while at work, and deceit, among other forms of sabotage, theft and cruelty
have unarguably in recent times become a tradition to most public servants,
particularly those at the top. Every Nigerian invariably laments over the
ongoing crises occasioned by unemployment, but it’s pertinent to acknowledge
that in the real sense most current serving civil servants are in their
seventies (70s). How would you reconcile these assertions?
Another worrisome issue we are required to note is that, according to
Gov Okorocha, Imo in spite of being an oil producing state, receives one of the
least allocations from the federal government. For the past ten months, Imo has
been receiving between #1.9 billion and #2.3 billion on a monthly basis with a
wage bill of over #4 billion. Though the governor needs to address this
lingering anomaly with the sitting President – Mohammadu Buhari, but it’s
imperative to acknowledge that diversification of the sources of the state’s
IGR remains an inevitable measure.
This is undoubtedly the era of total turnaround. Any element of deceit
emanating from any angle must be swallowed or thrown to the waste bin headlong.
Anyone who truly loves Imo State ought to do everything humanly possible to
avoid further emergence of acrimony in the state.
At this juncture, I must sincerely appreciate
the governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha for the urgent and humane step taken to
address the altercation; he has indeed proven beyond any reasonable doubt that
he’s a listening governor. Notwithstanding, his Excellency must take into
cognizance that though Imo is in the hands of God but he’s the god the Imolites
are seeing, hence must be extremely cautious of all his actions as he works
vehemently towards rescuing Imo people in their entirety. Think about it!
Comr Fred Doc
Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador 
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