By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI.
The Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has promised to clear the salary arrears owed civil servants and members of the Community Government Councils, CGC, before the end of this week.

Okorocha, who made the promise while addressing members of the CGC in Owerri, however disclosed that pensioners whose take home pay is more than N50,000, will be paid much later.

“All pensioners with a monthly take home of less than N50,000 will receive the arrears this week, while those whose pensions are more than N50,000 will be paid later”, Okorocha said.

Although the Governor did not explain the rationale for the dichotomy in the payments, he however assured the citizenry that his administration would not scrap the CGC

He restated his belief that the CGC system, which he established in the state, “is the best system of government in Africa”.
It was the considered opinion of Okorocha that the CGC practically demonstrates the principle of democracy, which is government of the people by the people
for the people.

The governor expressed satisfaction that the CGC has succeeded in reducing crime and other vices in the rural areas and helped people realize their potentials and pledged to make it more effective.

Speaking on the appointments recently made by President Mohammadu Buhari, Governor Okorocha assured Ndigbo that they will be given their due share of appointments very soon.

Speaking on his campaign promise of industrializing the state, Governor Okorocha said his administration will establish an industry in each of the old autonomous communities, which existed in 1971, to serve the component communities created from it.

Governor Okorocha used the opportunity to introduce the new commissioner of Police in the state Barr. Fredrick, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Pedro Awenigegba and the State Director of SSS, Mr. Francis Ejiofor to members of the CGC.