Governor Hope Uzodimma
has accepted to bear the cost of medical treatment of all workers in Imo State
as part of government's efforts to ensure that the civil servants are
positioned to do their work well.
That is not all. The
Governor has also assured the civil servants who are due for promotion to brace
up for it as his government will soon unveil their names.
Besides, the shortfall
in the number of teachers required by the Imo State Education Management Board
(SEMB) will soon be a thing of the past as Governor Uzodimma has promised to
engage more teachers.
The free Social Health
Insurance Scheme for more than 47,000 Imo State civil servants, the plan to
elevate those of them due for promotion among others, were the high-points of a
town-hall meeting between Governor Uzodimma and top management staff of the Imo
State workforce on Tuesday.
The meeting which was
at the instance of the Governor involved Commissioners, Permanent
Secretaries and Directors of Ministries, Heads of Parastatals, Chairman of Imo
State Internal Revenue Service and the General Manager of Imo Data
Centre.
It was also an
opportunity for the Governor, the heads of ministries, departments and agencies
of government, to review complaints by workers about non payment of salary and
how to foster a better working relationship between workers and political
appointees in the interest of the State.
When the Governor was
informed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Success Prosper-Ohayagha that it
will cost the State Government about N500 million annually to pay for medical
services for all verified workers in Imo State under the Social Health
Insurance Scheme, Governor Uzodimma told him to consider it done, a promise
that attracted instant thunderous jubilation at the Sam Mbakwe Executive
Chambers, venue of the meeting.
The Governor had
directed the Commissioner for Health and the General Manager of Imo State
Social Health Insurance Scheme to immediately commence the process of getting
all verified workers into the net for the free medical scheme.
By the free medical
service, verified workers in Imo - both at the State and Local Government - are
to get treated of any kind of ailment in the government or designated private
hospitals, except those not listed in the Scheme.
Also, after taking
contributions from top civil servants on why their promotion is delayed,
Governor Uzodimma assured that the matter is already being attended to and that
the list will soon be unveiled.
He said the economic
realities of the moment and the need to bring back the dignity of labour in our
civil servants make it compelling that their welfare is taken a notch higher.
Governor Uzodimma used
the opportunity to brief the top civil servants on why some of their personnel
have issues with their salary.
He obliged them with
records indicating that some civil servants have continued to compromise the
Data Centre payroll system, by earning pay either as retired, absconded, ghost
or deceased workers.
Governor Uzodimma said
"civil servants without discrepancies are paid regularly" and
regretted that records from Data Centre showed that 1,593 persons receive
salary as retired, absconded, deceased or even ghost workers, with "446 of
them receiving double salaries with different bank accounts."
While he said details
of all the pay rolled workers are with the State's Accountant General, the
Governor however said the Head of Service had been briefed to advise the
government on what the Civil Service rule says regarding workers whose
activities as regards salary payment are criminal.
Nonetheless, Governor
Uzodimma assured all the genuine workers that his government will continue to
encourage them to be the best they want to be while serving the State.
He promised to attend
to all genuine issues concerning their career growth and welfare and invited
them to reciprocate the gesture by being more committed to their job.
Some of the workers who
brought their case before the Governor got instant attention like a
physically-challenged in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Vulnerable Groups,
Mr. Pius Anyanwu who complained that his travel allowance of N5 million to Japan
and Indonesia years back has not been paid despite repeated appeals.
After listening to his
pathetic tale Governor Uzodimma told him: "Don't worry. I am going
to pay you."
The Head of Service,
Barr. Raymond Ucheoma in his vote of thanks commended Governor Uzodimma for his
heart of human kindness and untiring support to the workers over their welfare,
noting that they have never had it so good in their career pursuit in the State
as civil servants.
He described the free
medical service as "historic landmark" that cannot be forgotten.
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