ITC staff protest non-payment of salaries

Workers of Imo Transport Company Nigeria Ltd. (ITC) were at their company’s terminal, MCC Road Owerri, Monday, March 17, 2014, staged what they called a peaceful protest over non-payment of staff’s salaries by the state government.   The protest which paralyzed the entire transport activities of the company and rendered commuters stranded indicated that the lingering face-off between ITC and State Government has not been resolved. When THE LEADER visited the scene, Tuesday, March 18, the angry crowd were still on a blockade at the entrance gate of the company insisting with inscriptions on placards which read: Owelle Ndi Imo save our soul from Global Ginikana, My People! My People!! Owelle, are ITC not your…

Imo govt abandons Nsu tiles and ceramic industry -Equipment looted

The question agitating the minds of Agbahara Nsu indigenes in Ehime Mbano LGA is whether the Owelle Rochas Okorocha led administration in Imo State has abandoned the Nsu Tiles and Ceramic Industry. It will be recalled that the Governor informed natives of the community during a visit in 2012 that his administration is poised in establishing the Nsu Tiles Industry under a joint partnership with Italian investors who will provide machinery and technical expertise, while the government will provide the logistics, financial backing and enabling environment as the raw material is readily available in commercial quantity. A high powered government delegation led by  Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, accompanied by Hon….

Pension: Not in my hands – Dr Mrs Uche Ejiogu

In church circles, she is popularly known as “Nwanyi Ukwa,” in recognition of her culinary skills in making the delicious, traditional dish Ukwa. Dr Mrs Uche Ejiogu has proudly defended that title every Harvest at Assumpta Cathedral. But she has other names not connected to her culinary ability. Nicknames such as Iron Lady and Air Raid refer to her penchant for rattling nerves when she pays a surprise visit to schools. In one of her visits, she found that teachers at the school had taken more money from students than was allowed for a particular exercise. She ordered a refund and teachers didn’t like that. But that’s the “Iron Lady” in “Nwanyi Ukwa,” a doctor…

Ada, Opara Imo Winners Emerge – Get Brand New Cars

The Owerri Capital City of Imo State was agog as winners of Ada-Imo and Opara-Imo emerge from youths numbering over 1000 from the 27 Local Government Areas of the state. Miss Anabel Obianugu Amadi, a 300 level student of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) from Aboh Mbaize emerged the 2013 Ada-Imo while one Kenneth Nwadike from Mbano Isiala LGA came was crowned the Opara. The winners went home each with a cash gift of 1 million Naira, a brand new car and a trip to South Africa and a brand new bus for their community. In his remarks, Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that the competition was organized to promote and re-invigorate…

Community Government: Is it viable?

Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has on several occasions enumerated what Imo people stand to gain from embracing his Fourth-Tier System of Government, otherwise called, Community Government.  The novelty of it all, being that the state power base will, as it were, relocate from Douglas House Owerri (Government House) to the various autonomous communities in the 27 local government areas of the state. According to the new structure, the duly recognized traditional ruler of each autonomous community will preside over the Community Government Council (CGC), which will include: a Government Liaison Officer (GLO), a Community Liaison Officer (CLO), a Woman leader, Youth leader and Secretary.  The concept is to bring development close to the people as…

Stop this Money sharing to Imo Pupils now

In his maiden broadcast to the people of Imo State in June 2011, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha left nobody in doubt that education was indeed his top priority.  In keeping with his campaign promises, he unfolded details of his free education package.  The free education that was initially planned for public primary and secondary schools was soon extended to state-owned tertiary institutions of learning.  Governor Okorocha at every opportunity kept emphasizing the importance of saving the future of Imo children through qualitative education.   In addition to free tuition, he made budgetary provisions for textbooks, school bags and sandals, for them.  To crown it all his Government pays allowances of N300 per pupil and N500 per…

Auto crash: Why Okorocha was not treated in Government hospital

Insecurity and protracted labour dispute between the State Government and staff of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), were reasons why Governor Rochas Okorocha was not taken to the hospital for treatments when he was involved in an auto crash recently. Okorocha’s vehicle had head-on collision with another vehicle belonging to one Osita Nnawuihe on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Umuoma, Orlu, while driving himself without the usual outriders and government house ambulance. Daily Sun learnt that the governor was rushed to St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa where he received first aid, while Nnawuihe was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri for treatment. The State Government and the teaching hospital…