Imo State officials have been urged to return home following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
In a broadcast, Governor Hope Uzodimma ordered all state ministries, agencies and parastatals to be closed as of Monday, December 21, 2020, except for permanent secretaries and those appointed by politics.
He also reconstituted COVID-19 measures of regular hand washing, wearing of face masks and maintaining good personal hygiene.
“The Secretary of State, which is the main crowd extractor, will be closed to the public until further notice.
“Only a crowd of 100 can gather anywhere in the state and the crowd must put on their face masks.
“There must be racks for washing hands with alcohol-based disinfectants at such events.
“The wearing of masks in public places is now absolutely compulsory. Mobile courts have been deployed statewide and anyone will be caught without their face mask.
“All COVID-19 protocols must now be strictly enforced in public places like churches, markets, restaurants, places of entertainment, etc. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in severe penalties, ”he concluded.
Meanwhile, some state workers and retirees have shouted for being ordered to go home for Christmas without their pay.
A worker who pleaded for anonymity described the governor’s order as callous and unacceptable.
He revealed that while some workers owe three months’ salary, others owe four months, including the December salary.
“The governor, for me, is insensitive to asking workers for no wages. Under normal circumstances, the governor should talk about giving workers Christmas bonuses and gifts like other governors do.
“Retirees cry and workers cry too. It is the height of insensitivity. How to celebrate Christmas without pay? He lamented.
