SUBSIDY REMOVAL PALLIATIVE: GOV UZODIMMA AWARDS SALARY INCREASE, PROMISES TO OFFSET GRATUITY ARREARS, CRASH FOOD PRICE

REPORTER: CHUKWUKA AGUKWE

Imo State Government has increased the minimum wage of workers in the state to forty thousand naira as part of measures to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal.

The state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, announced this during a stakeholders meeting in Owerri.

Governor Uzodimma, who announced increment in workers’ salary from the #30,000 minimum wage to #40,000, said in addition, the workers would enjoy free lunch and free medical care.

He said the government would also provide mass transit vehicles in owerri city.

The Governor promised to crash the price of food stuffs in the market through the Imo State Marketing Commodity Board by purchasing enough food items to enable the people buy food products at cheaper rate across the 27 local government areas of the state.

Governor Uzodimma said the administration would map out 5 billion naira as soft loans to genuine farmers to enhance food production.

He said arrangement have been concluded for payment of gratuity to retired civil servants from 2008 to date.

Senator Uzodimma cautioned those who instigate crisis in the state and urged the people to support his administration to continue to deliver dividends of democracy.

One of the stakeholders at the meeting, the President Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Archbishop of Owerri Province, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend David Onuoha appealed to government at all levels to take issue of insecurity in the south east seriously.

He also called for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to douse the tension in the south east.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU