OKOROCHA CALLS FOR SUPPORT FROM THE JUDICIARY TO BOOST IGR FOR IMO

Governor Rochas Okorocha has called for support from magistrates in Imo State to assist the State government in increasing its internally generated revenue.

He made this call while addressing a large group of magistrates during a meeting held at the Government House Owerri, recently.

Speaking during the meeting, Governor Okorocha said that an increase in the State’s IGR will complement the dwindling federal allocation to the State and enable it carry out its statutory duties. He expressed regrets that the magistrates have been performing their duties under deplorable conditions and presented them with official vehicles to enable them discharge their duties effectively. He announced plans to rehabilitate and renovate dilapidated courts to make them conducive for the dispensation of justice.

Okorocha disclosed other measures to be taken by government to enhance their working condition to include a decision by the government that every magistrate will live within the locality where his or her court is located adding that magistrates who do not have police orderlies will have theirs as the commissioner of Police has been requested to cooperate with them in that regard. He assured them that government will do its best to encourage and motivate them to discharge their functions effectively and bring to justice those who contravene basic laws of the State including sanitation laws.

Speaking further at the meeting, the governor expressed government’s intention to rationalize the workforce by flushing out workers who are not serious with their duties and strengthen the workforce by engaging new hands. He expressed happiness that the campaign promises he made four years ago including free education, building of schools and hospitals, construction of roads and provision of infrastructure were fulfilled and pledge to effectively implement his 2015 promises of building factories and industries and provision of jobs for the unemployed youths.

Earlier in a speech, the State Chief Judge, Justice Pascal Nnadi thanked governor Okorocha for his effort to uplift the judiciary and enhance the welfare of magistrate in the State, describing it as steps in the right direction.

Justice Nnadi expressed confidence that the measures embarked upon by government will solve problems militating against smooth dispensation of justice in the State and pleaded with the governor to ensure that the backlog of salaries, running costs, imprest allocations, and power bills are cleared while members of the judiciary would appreciate it if they are assisted in hosting the national conference of their organization scheduled for this month.