The Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, have warned civil servants who go about blackmailing the government with claims of nonpayment of salaries, that he will expose them and publish their names if they continue trying to smear his administration with lies.
Uzodimma was speaking at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Emekuku on Sunday, when he joined a former Secretary to the Imo State Government, Sir Jude Ejiogu, to mark his birthday.
Uzodimma's statement came in reaction to a call by the parish priest to the governor, to address the issue of about 5% of the Imo workforce, who still claim they are yet to receive their salaries.
While appreciating the parish priest for his words of advice, Uzodimma pointed out that those claiming to be owed salaries, were those who in one way or the other, involved themselves in corrupt practices.
"The civil servants in this church," the governor stated. "If you are in the category of the 5 or 10% that have not been receiving their salaries, find out further whether you're in the category of those who have been receiving double salaries for over 10 to 15 years because everything about salaries have been automated, everything about pension have been automated, if before you were working at Owerri North Local government and they transferred you to Owerri West and you chose to be receiving salaries from Owerri North and Owerri West, it means you are owing government, that's why your salary is not coming."
Uzodimma however pointed out that his administration was working out a plan to address the situation.
He revealed that the government had initially wanted to publish the names of those involved but after the intervention by the leadership of the church and other leaders in the state, the government decided to make plans to start paying them.
"What is not proper is that you are quick in telling people that you have not received your salaries but you don't let the people know the discrepancies that have made you not to receive your salary. That you have been involved in fraud in the past or improper recruitment. I don't think that the system were operating now, will have any room to discriminate, the system will not know your face, will not know where you come from, will not know who is your father or who is your mother, simply put, at the end of every month your salary is automatic, you'll be paid.
"Those of you who are not saying the complete truth, should also be kind enough to be apologetic that the are victims of what they did in the past. I'm tempted to publish their names but some interventions here and there have been prevailing on me, but if you don't say the truth and continue to blackmail the government, I'll publish your names next week and I'll tell people how much you are owing and what you did."
Uzodimma while expressing doubt that there are innocent people affected pointed out that he has a list of about 925 people with discrepancies.
Sir Jude Ejiogu, a former Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress APC, during the 2019 General Elections, marked his birthday at his hometown of Umuakuru Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area.
The event also had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku, the APC deputy governor candidate for the November Governorship election Lady Chinyere Ekomaro, the senator representing Orlu zone, Osita Izunaso, former Owerri zone Senator, Chris Anyanwu, Chief of Staff to the governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie amongst others too numerous to mention.
