Governor Ihedioha halts salaries of ghost workers in Imo state

Governor Emeka Ihedioha has put an end to the payment of salaries to civil servants he tagged as being employed illegally in Imo state.

In a report by The Guardian, the workers affected were those recruited during Rochas Okorocha’s regime, Ihedioha’s predecessor between January 2018 and March 29, 2019.

According to the report, Ihedioha’s move followed allegations by the Imo state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of illegal employment and promotions by the Okorocha-led past administration.

The Governor urged the Head of Service, Alma Eluwa, to work with other directors in Imo’s civil service to confirm those that merited their employment.

He also setup a panel to probe and fish out ghost workers.

“We have records of people, who illegally got employment and promotion during the past government from 2018 to May 2019. Illegal employment went on in the state to the tune of not less than 5,000 workers. Let the Head of Service say it is not true, and we will come up with evidence.

“Also, some were even promoted to Permanent Secretary without merit. This is why somebody on Level 14 was promoted to become a Permanent Secretary, whereas we have people who are on Level 16 and have been in that position for years. This is not fair,” NLC state chairman, Austin Chilakpo, told Ihedioha in the government house in Owerri, the state capital on Friday, July 5.