Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha has announced the sacking of about 5,000 civil servants from 19 parastatals and agencies who are yet to reach their retirement.
This is the second time the governor would be sacking civil servants in the state after he had in June 2011 sacked 10,000 workers recruited by the administration of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
The sack followed an angry demonstration by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), rejecting the threat by the governor to sack the workers, who were joined by the national leadership of the congress.
In a statement signed by secretary to the government of Imo State, Sir Jude Ejiogu and widely aired on the state owned radio station, Orient FM, Okorocha said the affected workers would lose their jobs without salaries starting from January 4.
According to him, the reason behind the sack followed the months of probe that showed that the workers were not contributing any meaningful thing to the growth of the state.
The affected agencies whose workers and management were sacked included Imo State Health Management Board, Imo Water Corporation, Imo Cattle Market, Imo Sports Council, Imo Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO), Imo Marketing Company and Imo Consumer Protection Council, CPC.
Others are, Ada Palm, Imo Tourism Board, Imo Blue Lake of Treasure, Imo State Investment Promotion Agency, ISIPA; Imo Job Centre, Imo Water Development Agency, IWADA; Imo Library Board and Imo Livestock, Agricultural Development Programme, ADP among others.
