IMSG slashes salaries of political appointees
By;Victor Duruamaku, Owerri.
Imo State Government has resolved to slash the salaries and allowances of all its political appointees.
Also slashed by 20 per cent is the salary and security vote of the state Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere.
Addressing a press conference in Owerri, the Governor, Chief Rochas Okoroacha explained that this measure was as a result of the present economic crunch facing the country.
The governor said that his administration has also resolved to slash the salaries and allowances of magistrates in the state, pointing out that he had already reached a compromise to this effect with the magistrates.
He said that the Magistrates in Imo State earn over N500,000 monthly which according to him, is far higher than the salaries of Magistrates in other states of the federation.
Governor Okorocha said that the judicial officers in the state, particularly the magistrates takes so much of state fund and since he came in as the governor his administration has never won any Court case.
According to him, he had over 1000 cases in court and has not won any yet. Out of this exercise, he said, his administration has saved about N16 billion which he said would be used in setting up small scale business for the teeming unemployed graduates.
According to him, these business clusters, when established will be known as the millionaire’s club.
Still in line with the economic crunch, the governor further said that his administration will by next year sack workers who were indolent or found wanting in any way by any inquiry of the state government.
On free education programme, the governor said his administration has abolished the free education at all levels for non indigenes of the state, whom he said had enjoyed free education in the state.
The governor said that he was not comfortable to hear that Imo State indigenes in other states pay school fees, while none, indigenes enjoy free education in Imo State.