- Directs landlords to show building permits
- Begins verification of free education beneficiaries
Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has denied issuing dud cheques to workers in the state. The denial followed complaints by workers that banks rejected the cheques when they were tendered.
Also, to avoid incidences of building collapse in any part of the 27 local councils, the state government yesterday directed all landlords to produce their building permits by posting them in front of their houses.
This came as Okorocha saluted teachers, who celebrated the World Teachers Day.
The governor made the declarations in two statements signed his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo
On the cheques, the statement regretted that the media published the allegation, adding that there was no such act on the part of the state government.
The governor rather stated that hoodlums suspected to be loyalists of rival political parties had stormed the Imo Trade Investment Centre, where officials of the state government were issuing cheques for salary arrears and forcefully took the cheque booklets away. He added that the affected banks were asked to stop payments as a result, with a view to documenting the serial numbers of the booklets.
According to the statement, about 10 persons have been arrested over the incidence and will soon be prosecuted.
Okorocha stressed that cheque payments were meant to check alleged fraud and help achieve the desired goal. Continuing, he disclosed that payments had been made to civil servants, teachers, the Youth-Must-Work and personnel of parastatals for the month of September, except those who have issues to sort out.
On teachers’ welfare, Okorocha promised to sustain good welfare, adding that they should on their part endeavour to impart knowledge on children. He said he would fulfill his promises, especially with regards to uplifting the educational system.
In another development, the state government has directed all the students of the state origin, who have been part of its free education policy, to turn up for verification by the appropriate committee.
On the building standardisation, the government noted that all buildings must be assessed based on approved laid-down procedures and directed landlords and building developers to comply with the task force’s directive.
On the Committee on Review of Tertiary Education Free Education, the statement directed indigenous students of the Imo State University, Imo Polytechnic, Umuagwo and College of Health Sciences, Amaigbo, to report to designated places to show proofs of local government of origin, letters of admission, among others, to the committee members.
Okorocha’s free education policy in Imo has remained a subject of controversy since 2011, when the idea was first sampled.
The original plan was meant for public primary and secondary schools, after which undergraduate students in other states were brought into the scheme. (The Guardian)
