Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has announced plans to pay a 13th-month salary as the end-of-year bonus to workers in the state.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Mr Oguwike Nwachuku, made this known in a statement he signed on Monday in Owerri.

In the statement, Uzodimma said that efforts were ongoing to elevate deserving civil servants, adding that all outstanding payments of salaries and pensions would soon be cleared.

He urged civil servants to remain committed to the service of government and try not to be partisan.

“All verified 43, 000 workers without issues will never be owed salaries by this government because we do not regard payment of salary as an achievement by any governor, the worker deserves his wage.

“Promotion issues will be looked into as long as the workers remain committed and we want you to desist from blackmailing the government.

“Your happiness is my happiness, your sadness is my sadness, your hunger is my hunger,” he said.

The Head of Service, Dr. Camilus Iwuagwu, thanked the governor for introducing the automated payroll system, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, provision of free mass transit, Civil Servants Clinic, and training of workers.

Iwuagwu thanked the governor for granting the request to revisit the genuine cases of workers and pensioners who, as a result of some problems were omitted from salaries and pensions.

Also, Rev. Philip Nwansi, state Chairman of, Nigeria Labour Congress commended the governor for being worker-friendly.

Nwansi expressed confidence that all those with issues of unpaid salaries and pensions would soon have reasons to rejoice.