Crisis brews as Okorocha insists on 'no BVN, no salary'

Two weeks after the Imo State government and organized labour struck a deal over anti-workers’ policy, another crisis is looming between the civil servants and the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration.

The brewing crisis is prompted by the directive of the state government that all workers must submit their Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) before they are paid their February salaries and other subsequent months.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, through the Secretary to the State Government (SGF) directed the Head of Service, Mr. Calistus Ekenze, to ensure immediate compliance by all the ministries, parastatals, agencies, boards and local government workers with the order.

But some senior civil servants told The AUTHORITY that the workers are worried because no reason has been given to them for the action.

One of the workers insisted that the state government owes them an explanation and conviction instead of “arrogantly imposing the policy on them.”
The AUTHORITY learnt that the disenchanted workers are giving different interpretations and meanings to the directive.

Some of them vowed to shun the directive until a proper explanation was given to them and asked their labour unions to intervene to avoid another industrial crisis in the state.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the 27 treasurers from the 27 local government areas called by the Office of the Local Government Auditor-General on Monday has mandated the treasurers to ensure that all the council workers comply with the BVN directive.
The treasurers, according to one of them, who pleaded anonymity, are confused and suspicious of the rationale behind the submission of BVN as a pre-condition for their salary payment.
The treasurers however agreed to submit the forms to their workers and to advise them to comply with the order so that their February salaries can be paid.