Economic Crisis: Okorocha Plans 3 Working Days for State Workers, to Slash Salaries

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Saturday, July 30th, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara

IMO, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, says his administration may highly likely reduce working days from five to three to enable the government cut workers’ salaries.

Briefing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital on the state of affairs in Imo, the Governor, said he is making the consideration based on the present economic reality in Nigeria.

According to him, the proposed reduction of workdays would enable workers to attend to other activities that would generate money to supplement their monthly salaries to take care of their families.

His words: “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”, he said.

The Governor, who was not specific on when the proposed move take effect, disclosed that the State government was equally planning to review workers’ salaries downward.

Okorocha, added that in spite of the current payment of 70 percent of salaries to workers, the State still paid the highest salary scale among States in South-East Nigeria, which include, Enugu, Imo Abia, Anabmbra and Ebonyi.

He said “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 to workers to be at par with other States of South-East,”.

Commenting on the just-concluded rerun election in the state, Okorocha expressed happiness with Imo electorate for electing the candidates of APC in Imo North Senatorial District, Isiala Mbano and Oru East State Constituencies.

He declared that with the victory, APC had demonstrated that it was strong in the South-East and should be given its rightful place in the scheme of things in Nigeria.