Street sweepers block Imo govt house entrance over unpaid salaries

Protesting street sweepers on Monday blocked the entrance of the Imo State Government House in Owerri over their unpaid salary arrears.

The women, who insisted on seeing the governor, Hope Uzodinma, alleged that they had not been paid since he took over power on January 15.

The leader of the women, who simply gave her name as Charity, told newsmen that all entreaties they had made to make the government pay them their arrears of salaries were futile.

She bemoaned the government for not being compassionate on them despite the risk they take in sweeping the state capital.

She said that while most of them were poor, others were widows, who depended on the stipends they receive as salaries to take care of their families.

The enraged woman said that life was becoming difficult for them.

When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Print Media, Modestus Nwamkpa, said the government was looking into the books.

He, however, assured that all grievances would be resolved by the government.

Nwamkpa said the governor was not the cause of most of the issues people were currently kicking against.