One
of the fundamental human rights is the right to a just remuneration
that ensures an existence worthy of human dignity. The preamble to the
Constitution of the International Labour Organization identifies the
provision of an adequate living wage as one of the conditions for
universal and lasting peace based on social justice.
Attempt
by the Imo state government to narrow non-payment of workers' salaries
to federal allocations coming to the state is not acceptable . Workers
are not working for federal allocations but for the state and their
employment letter did not state that their salaries will depend on
federal allocations. Okorocha’s attempt to justify non-payment of
salaries of workers on the ground of low federal allocation is horrible.
This excuse is a way for him to introduce worse labour policies such as
outright denial of payment of salaries, retrenchment of workers, among
others.
We
maintain our position that behind the financial crisis facing Imo State
is the gross misappropriation and misuse of state resources. If the
governor is complaining of the economic situation of the country , what
about all the years that billions of naira was hitting the account of
the state government from the federal allocation. We maintain that
Rochas Okorocha’s government, through pro-rich, contractor-oriented
policies and programmes, have ruined Imo State economy. The goal of
economic management and governance of Okorocha is not to satisfy the
needs of majority of the populace particularly the working people, but
to maximize profits and increase the wealth of a minority rich few. That
is why his system means unending poverty, misery and hardship for
overwhelming majority of the society in the midst of abundance.
We
wish to ask the governor of Imo State if development is all about
beautification of the state capital of Owerri. What about rural
communities of the state? Communities in Imo State are in comatose. This
shows how the state finances have been wasted and mismanaged. Uplifting
the living standards of the masses and improving education, health,
housing, roads and providing other basic necessities for rural
communities is the last in his calculations.
in spite of all the billions claimed to have been spent on free education, more than 95 percent of public primary and secondary schools in Imo communities are in terrible conditions with dilapidated buildings and no functional facilities for learning and teaching; while tertiary institutions in the state are poorly funded. We say No to this.
Kenneth Uwadi
President/CEO
Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI)
President/CEO
Youths for Human Rights Protection and Transparency Initiative (YARPTI)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please restrict your comment to the subject matter.