By Jennifer John
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has threatened to sue and prosecute any group of protesters in the state who were being used by those benefitting from the ghost workers syndrome to stage protests.
The governor pointed out that he had the names of 947 unpaid workers, some he said were receiving double salaries, some mutilated the BVN numbers after submitting two and have not come forward to clear it. He said those who have been receiving double salaries should come and explain to the government and warned that if this is not done, they will not be payrolled. He also threatened to publish the names of those who went on protest, even though they have been paid.
He also has declared about 10,433 workers in Imo state who are agitating over varying arrears of salaries as ghost workers.
Uzodimma made this assertion in his speech during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed commissioners and board Chairman and members for the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Owerri, Wednesday at the government house Owerri.
The governor insisted that out of the 11,480 purportedly unpaid workers only 947 workers in the state civil service system with varying degrees of irregularities have not been paid up to date, while the remaining 10,433 have been identified as ghost workers.
He said that the Imo state government, through its automation process of payment has verified, cleared and paid 42,845 workers in the state workforce up to date
“The difference from that number is 11, 480, out of this,10, 433, are ghost workers. Those who have not been paid are 947, and of this number, I have their names here and the reasons they have not been paid. I have severally appealed to civil servants who have not received their salaries to come up with the necessary documents to, either the data centre or office of the head of the service.
“A few days ago we had protesters protesting the non-payment of salary. It will interest you to know that their names were all written down, out of those names, I have them here, 99%, have been paid and received their salaries.” Uzodimma said.
