Governor Okorocha on May Day celebration in Owerri, Imo State capital… on Tuesday.
As a moral booster, Governor Rochas Okorocha on Tuesday directed automatic promotion from a grade level to the next one applicable to all categories of civil servants in the state civil service.
The governor who made the heart cheering news open during the festival marking the day at Heroes’ Square in Owerri, assured the workers of paying any minimum wage that the Federal Government will settle with the labour unions.
Okorocha said: “This is your day, and we are gathered here to celebrate you. We are gathered here for the admiration of exalted character of patriotic emotion. We are here gathered for the demonstration of the love for your State and your country. Let me join therefore millions of Nigerians to congratulate you and the workers of Imo State.
“You are the pivot upon which all the activities of government rotate. I want to inform you that without you, all activities of government would be shutdown, so you play a very key role unknown to you that you’re the live wire of every administration.”
He acknowledged the efforts of the workers in the permanence nature of their job, serving politicians who form government of the day.
“We, coming as politicians will spend 4 years or 8 years, but you the workers stay put. That shows that you’re the very foundation upon which the activities of government are built.
“Here in Imo State, we thank God Almighty. I’ve been with you for the past 7 years. We saw the difficult times of this country. I was with you when the economy of this nation went on recession. We were together when we had challenges before us, challenges of kidnap and insecurity in our land. We were together in all the troubles that came during this period.”he stressed.
He reminded the workers to enthrone a good government that will focus on good ideals, stressing: “But one thing I want to leave with you and I hope you have to know is that there’s need to have a government that will focus more on those ideals for which rescue mission administration is known for. I want to request the workers of Imo State, to make sure that you shine your eyes to choose the candidate that will replace me and make sure you do not go back to Egypt.”
Okorocha appealed to them to obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) in order to enable them cast their votes. He also asked the workers to make sure they have their PVCs.
Speaking, the Chairman of the State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Austin Chilakpu urged Imo workers and Imo people in general to make frantic efforts to obtain their PVCs as that is the only instrument that would enable them exercise their franchise in 2019 and determine their leaders.
“We wish to also commend the State Government for the sustenance of the free education policy. This policy has been a land mark policy as it has given Imo children the opportunity to build their future through education. It is our expectation that future administrations in the State would be able to sustain the programme for the overall benefit of Imo children and the future of our state
“The Organized Labour in Imo State wishes to express the readiness of Labour to partner with the Government to build a virile and peaceful Imo State that would compare favourably with other developing states in the country. In this regard, we call on the government to always engage in meaningful dialogue with Labour, especially on issues and policies that have the tendency to affect workers negatively.”
