The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has stated that he is considering reducing the number of work days in the state from five to three, to enable the government cut salaries.
Okorocha said this on Friday while briefing journalists on the state of affairs in Imo at his residence in Owerri, the state capital.
He said the reduction of work days would enable workers attend to other activities that would generate money to supplement their monthly salaries to take care of their families.
According to him, “I encourage Imo workers to find additional things to do to support their families because of the economic situation we are facing in Nigeria.
“We are considering to reduce the working days from five to three in Imo, so that workers will use the rest of the days to work and support their families.”
The Governor, who was not specific on when it may commence, added that Imo government was equally planning a downward review of workers’ salaries.
He said that in spite of the current payment of 70 percent of salaries to workers, the state still paid the highest salary scale among South-Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu.
“Directors in these other South-Eastern states receive something a little above N90, 000 while in Imo they receive more than N100, 000.”
“We intend to clear salary arrears up to July by next week. After that, we will consider downward review of salary for workers to be at par with other states of South-East,” he said.
On the just-concluded rerun election, Okorocha commended Imo people for electing the candidates of APC in Imo North Senatorial District, Isiala Mbano and Oru East State Constituencies.
He said with the victory, APC had shown that it was strong in the South-East and should be given its due right.
“With these victories, it shows that APC candidates won most of the national and state assembly seats during the 2015 general elections.
“I call on the leadership of the National Assembly (Senate), to correct the abnormality in its leadership which resulted in an opposition member occupying the Deputy Senate President seat,” he said.
Speaking about his urban renewal programme, the Imo governor said the relocation of Ekeukwu-Owerri market, Orji and Nekede Mechanic villages to Avu was irreversible.
He declared that “From Monday, Aug. 1, a taskforce to enforce the relocation order for the mechanics will commence work, and I am advising vehicle owners not to take their vehicles to any of these places from Monday.”
