Follow Us on Google
•Physically challenged Imo LG staff begs governor for 4-year salary arrears
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
As the labour movement agitates for new minimum wage, a physically challenged staff of the Imo State Local Government system, Hilary Egbula, has said that his priority is to get the about four years’ salary owed him by the government.
Egbula is a Higher Executive Officer in the accounts department of Ideato South Local Government Area. He lamented that the development has subjected him and members of his family to abject poverty and near ridicule.
According to him, his family which had been managing his monthly income before, now found it difficult to make ends meet.
The 51-year-old Grade Level 8 official said the first salary he was paid after the coming of the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led administration in the state was in March, 2020. Subsequently, he received salaries for May, June, July and October of that year. But from February 2021 till date, he said that he has not received any salary from the authorities of Ideato South LGA.
Egbula who hails from Ekitiafor Abba in Nwangele LGA, therefore, passionately appealed to the governor to save him and his family from undue hardship caused them by the non-payment of his salary: “My appointment was on October 8, 2002 in the accounts department of Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
“I was receiving my salaries until the present administration came in. I received staggered salaries in March, May, June, July and October of 2020 and from February 2021 till date, my salary stopped coming. I was not given any reason nor was I laid off. I have been working since then.
“I have made several efforts by participating in all the screening exercises undertaken by the state government, including the biometric capturing. I was given Imo number 08874469626 after filling the form given to all civil servants by the State Government through the office of the Accountant General.
“I went to the accountant-general’s office and they directed me to the Data Centre. The data centre on their own told me that they were on it. My name falls within the range of number 80 and 90 on the Imo State website under Ideato South local government workers.
“I scaled through many verifications organized by the Imo State Government supervised by Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Izuogu. I am surprised that they have not been paying me while the State gave me double promotion in the last promotion exercise. My file number is LGSC/E/P.2333.
“I am appealing to Governor Hope Uzodimma to use his good office to ensure that I get my salary. I have been living off friends and family members and some of my children have dropped out of school because I could not pay their school fees. Please, my beloved governor, come to my aid as I am physically challenged and cannot do much to help myself.”
