The Imo Government stated on Tuesday that it chose not to pay the salaries of several hundred workers in order to foster discipline, accountability, and orderliness within the state civil service.
Raymond Ucheoma, the Head of Service (HOS), informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an interview in Owerri that the workers in question violated several civil service regulations.
The government believes that the productivity of workers will enhance the development and prosperity of the state.
“The intention for recruiting workers is to provide high-quality services, it is not forced labour, which is why we have retirement, resignation or withdrawal of service.
“If at any time, a worker can no longer put in the eight hours of service in a day, the worker should write to get disengaged.
”The state government cannot become poorer because a worker wants to earn eight hours pay for three hours work, it is wrong to tolerate that type of mentality,” Ucheoma said.
The head of the service also mentioned that certain employees had developed a pattern of absenteeism, engaging in personal business activities, or sleeping during working hours.
He stated that the government is offering complimentary transportation, ensuring timely payment of salaries and benefits, and distributing relief measures, among other initiatives, to encourage the workers.
“So, whether the government just woke up to take actions or not, we have been just, because it is the state’s resources that are used to pay the workers,” the head of the service emphasised.
A civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, confided in NAN that over 300 workers were removed from the state government payroll.
“I was removed from the payroll because I did not come to work on a certain day; we spend a lot coming to work every day despite the high cost of transportation and cost of living compared to what we earn for a living.
“We appeal to Gov. Hope Uzodimma to please demonstrate the milk of human kindness and reinstate us on the payroll,” the source, who is also a victim of the government’s disciplinary measure, stated.
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