Imo: ISOPADEC staff protest non-payment of 3 months’ salary

Staff of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) Monday, stormed the Imo state Government House to protest the non-payment of their April, May and June salaries.

Blueprint observed that an hour and half into the protest, a team of mobile policemen arrived the gate of the Government House, to intimidate them, but they continued their peaceful demonstration.

Leader of the group Mr Chinedu Awuzie , who spoke to our correspondent, said that they were last paid in March and were forgotten from April to June, in spite of the monies that  comes to the commission.

Awuzie wondered why the government was finding it difficult to pay a commission of a little above 300 staff whereas their counterparts in other oil producing states that have more staff.

“Even the 40%, the government is supposed to leave for us, the oil producing areas, and take 60, they are not satisfied with the arrangement  They are still poking their nose into it. Our communities are still underdeveloped. No electricity, no good roads and no water. Let them pay us our salary first   because our money comes in regularly.”

Meanwhile, as at the time of filling this story, neither the governor nor his representative had come out to address the ISOPADEC Staff and they have vowed to remain at the Government House gate till dusk.

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