By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri

The staff of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas De­velopment Commission (ISOPADEC), Monday, blocked gates to the Imo State Government House to protest non-payment of three months salaries. The workers also kicked against what they called contin­ued withholding of monthly al­location meant for the develop­ment of oil-bearing communities by the government.

The protesters, armed with placards of various inscrip­tions and chanting angry songs, locked the government house gates, preventing vehicles from either going in or coming out.

They demanded payment of three months salary by Governor Okorocha. The leader of ISOPA­DEC Workers Union, Comrade Sunny Nnabuo, expressed regret and disappointment at Governor Okorocha’s inability to pay their August, September and October salaries, despite the increase in monthly allocation to the com­mission.

He lamented that the govern­ment had been using the youths of oil-bearing communities to protect its own interest but found it difficult to release the statutory monthly allocation to the commission to carry out its statutory role of developing the oil producing communities in Ohaji, Egbema and Oguta local government areas.

“We have been very loyal and supportive to the growth, prog­ress and unity of this govern­ment and that is why we have the effrontery to demand that our salaries be paid to us imme­diately and explanations given to us on why ISOPADEC should not be funded to carry out its statutory functions of developing oil producing communities. We cannot continue to keep quiet.

“We love Governor Okorocha, that’s why our youths easily obliged to work for him. For in­stance, this recent primaries of the All Progressives Congress, most of our youths sustained various degrees of injuries just in defence of this administration. Then, why is it possible for us to suffer in the same government we’re supporting. How can we continue to be in pains because of the actions of this government we’re supporting?

“We, therefore plead with Gov­ernor Rochas Okorocha to please pay us our salaries and release ISOPADEC fund to allow the commission carry out its statu­tory duties in the oil producing communities. We cannot be suf­fering when we’re supporting this government. We are asking, where is the 40 per cent of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund? It is yet to be given to the people of Ohaji Egbema and Oguta com­munities. ISOPADEC is an in­terventionists agency, but there is no evidence to prove that such an agency exists in Imo State.

“No project is going on in any community amongst the oil-bearing communities. You can imagine for years, there is no electricity and these are some of the things ISOPADEC used to take care of for the people of oil-bearing communities. The worst now is that the govern­ment is now owing us three months salary arrears and we cannot continue to bear that”.­




https://orientdailynews.com.ng/geopolis/south-east/workers-block-imo-govt-house/

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