Citizen Samuelson Iwuoha
As part of its Oversight Legislative Responsibilities and Practices, the Imo State House Of Assembly Committee On Labour/Productivity, Civil Service And Pension was on Wednesday 06/03/2024 inaugurated to move the State forward to ensure effectiveness in the legislative oversight function and due process.
According to report from the Media Department in Imo State House of Assembly stated that,
In his inaugural address, The Chairman of the Committee, Hon Barr. Kingsley Ozurumba, Member Representing Isu State Constituency, pledged to use his positions to ensure continued strong and positive disposition towards the welfare of Imo workers by the Shared Prosperity Administration in the State, on one hand, and also ensuring workers continue to give support to Government to implement policies and programmes that promotes development, unity and peace in the state.
“This Committee is primarily here to be part of what Government is doing, for the benefit of our people”. Hon Ozurumba said.
Other Members of the Committee include : Hon Chief Johnleoba Iheoha, who is the Vice-chairman of the Committee and Member Representing Ikeduru State Constituency, and Hon Engr Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie, a Member of the Committee and a Member Representing Mbaitoli State Constituency. The Clerk of the Committee, Mrs Anne Martins-Ezirim.
In their respective remarks, Members of the Committee promised to assist the Chairman to ensure policies and programmes of the State Government continue to benefit workers and the state.
In a separate remark, Hon Johnleoba Iheoha, “we are very happy our capacity Governor has done well for the State. This is the most sensitive Committee. We will therefore leave no stone unturned to discharge our duties, by ensuring there remains a disciplined and productive workforce in the state”.
While Hon Ikpamezie, stated, “if labour sneezes, the entire system will be scampering for safety. The system will continue to service labour and make it to be more productive. Our job therefore is to Oversight, using the Committee, to ensure stability. We will do our work”.
In his address the Chairman of the Committee and member for Isu State Constitutiency, Barr. Ozurumba elucidated and explained in details the expectation of Imo people mostly the civil service from the committee and charged his members on the need for pragmatism and courage.
“It would recalled that on the 16th of November 2023, the Speaker of Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Chike Olemgbe, unveiled the 26 Standing Committees and its accompanied Chairmen”.
“However, I was only sworn-in as Honourable Member for Isu State Constituency few weeks ago, more than two months after, and to the Glory of Almighty God, I was named the Chairman Of House Committee On Labour/Productivity, Civil Service and Pension, and with you my dear distinguished colleagues and brothers, as members. It is therefore a privilege to work with you on this assignment, and I assure you, we will not disappoint government on this very task, neither will we fail the workforce in the state”.
“This is a very sensitive Committee, as it has to do with the welfare of the workforce in the state. It also has to do with how the workforce in the state is able to reciprocate government good gestures with efficient and effective service delivery”.
Commending the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for approving the ongoing training of all Civil Servants and Professionalization of the Civil Service at the renovated training centre. This commendation is not limited to the following, Renovation and Beautification of the State Secretariat complex, Reticulation of water supply in the State Secretariat, Provision of Buses to shuttle workers to and fro the State Secretariat.
Approval and Payment of 13th month salary for workers.
Promotion of workers to the next grade level and approval for the implementation of N40, 000 minimum wage, against what other State governments are paying,
Punctual payment of Pension to retired civil servants.
Others are sharing of Palliatives (Rice, Groundnut Oil and tomato) among Civil Servants in the State and so on and so forth.
Barr. Ozurumba maintained that none the functions of the Committee include,
To fully Oversight the Ministry Of Labour/Productivity, Civil Service and Pension, vis-a-vis ,To inject, through Oversight, Disciplinary Control in the State Civil Service, To assist, through Oversight, in ensuring that the Retirement and Exit of Civil Servants from Civil Service is in line with Civil Service Regulations, To assist, through Oversight, in ensuring that Recruitment and Selection is in line with the Regulations, To assist, through Oversight, in the Protection of Pension Benefits for Retirees, To assist, through Oversight, in the Promotion of good governance, ethics and integrity in the Public service.
Other areas included, To Identify and Review, through Oversight, the anomalies in the State Civil Service, To assist the Shared Prosperity leadership in the State to achieve the goal of building a Civil Service that would be effective, dedicated and result oriented performance and To regularly interface with the Office of Head Of Service, by ensuring prompt executions of their assignments.