There was wild jubilation at the Imo State Secretariat Friday, December 24, as workers received their 13th month salary as promised by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
As alert of the payment started hitting their phones from Wednesday and continued till Friday, hundreds of the excited workers congratulated one another with hugs. Many of them described the Governor as a miracle worker.
Governor Uzodimma had, Tuesday, December 21, during a meeting with workers in the State promised to pay them 100 per cent of their basic salary as 13th month, the first of such intervention in the history of Imo State.
Although Friday was supposed to be a half day work for the civil servants, out of excitement, many of them stayed beyond that to continue to discuss the positive development.
For example, Mrs Olivia Ejirimka who works with Owerri Municipal Area council, said it was the first time she was witnessing the payment of 13th month since she started work many years ago.
“My brother, when the Governor made that promise, my attitude was like let’s wait and see. Now that he has fulfilled it, help me thank him, ” she said.
Similarly, Mr Ezekel Chukwuka of the Ministry of Finance described the 13th month salary payment as “the greatest miracle of 2021.”
According to Chukwuka, “what the workers were praying for was to get our December salaries, not knowing that our action Governor had another surprise for us.”
While commending Governor Uzodimma for the gesture, Mr. Chukwuka pleaded that it should be a regular feature every year.
Also, Mrs Oby Amadi-Obi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Stategy expressed appreciation to Governor Uzodimma for being a caring father to workers in the State.
She recalled that on assumption of office the Governor embarked on renovation of the Imo State Secretariat and without wasting time, proceeded to provide the junior workers with free transportation.
Mrs. Amadi-Obi described the payment of the 13th month salary “an icing on the cake of good package for the staff by the Governor.”
On Thursday when the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congrss (NLC) paid a thank you visit to Governor Uzodimma in his office, they expressed gratitude to him for redeeming his promise to pay 13th month salary to the workers.
Chairman of NLC in the State, Commrade Philips Nwansi, had told the Governor during the visit that the 13th month payment was the first in the history of Imo State.
