Paris Club Refund: Group urges Okorocha to pay workers, retirees

Governor Rochas Okorocha

Warns Against Embarking On Elephant Projects

A Social group, Imo Billie Initiative for Social Justice, has urged Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, to properly utilise the over N14b second tranche of Paris Club refund, disbursed by the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Aku Obidinma, and General Secretary, Dr. Uzochukwu Chukwuebuka, made available to The Guardian, yesterday, the body said it knows that while workers and retirees in others states would be happy over the released fund, Imo’s case would be different, as there could likely be a diversion into irrelevant projects.

The statement read: “We are convinced that Imo government’s refusal to fully pay pensioners and workers cannot be attributed to lack of funds, but rather lack of will to do so. With the current release of fund, we, therefore, call on Governor Rochas Okorocha to immediately clear the arrears owed Imo State workers and pensioners.”

The statement also urged Imo House of Assembly to sit up and execute its oversight function by ensuring that the funds were used to pay affected persons, as advised by the Federal Government.