Civil servants in Imo State have been asked to go home following the resurgence of COVID-19in Nigeria.
Governor Hope Uzodimma in a broadcast directed that all ministries, agencies and parastatals in the state be closed with effect from Monday, 21 December 2020, except the Permanent Secretaries and political appointees.
He further re-enacted the COVID-19 measures of regular hand washing, wearing of facemasks and maintenance of sound personal hygiene.
“The state Secretariat which is the major crowd puller will be closed to the public till further notice.
“Only a crowd of 100 people can gather anywhere in the state and the crowd must put on their facemasks.
“There must be hand wash stands available with alcohol-based sanitizers at such events.
“Wearing of face masks at public places is henceforth absolutely compulsory. Mobile courts have been deployed all over the state and will anybody caught without their facemasks.
“All COVID-19 protocols must henceforth strictly be enforced in public places like churches, market places, eateries, fun places etc. Failure to abide by these instructions will attract strict punishment,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, some workers and pensioners in the state have cried out for being ordered to go home for Christmas without their salaries.
A worker who pleaded anonymity described the order by the Governor as insensitive and unacceptable.
He disclosed that while some workers are owed three months salary, others are owed four months including the December salary.
“The Governor, to me, is insensitive to ask the workers to go without salaries. Under normal circumstances, the Governor should be talking about giving the workers Christmas bonus and gifts like other Governors are doing.
“The pensioners are crying and the workers are crying too. This is the height of insensitivity. How do we celebrate Christmas without our salaries?” he lamented.
