Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu of Abia State has been applauded for his resolve not to down-size or even right-size the work-force of the State, even in the face of obvious economic challenges.
This commendation was made yesterday by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Rt Hon Prince Christopher Enweremadu, in his office at Umuahia.
Prince Enweremadu, a former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, had, while granting audience to Abia PDP Media and Publicity Team led by the State Publicity Secretary, Sir Don Ubani, stated that present economic realities could have forced the Ikpeazu administration to resort to cutting the size of the work-force of the State to a manageable number but the Governor, being considerate and affectionate, resolved that no Abia worker will lose his or her employment on account of economic exigencies.
The Hon Commissioner illustrated his point using his native local government council of Isialangwa-North as an example. He said not minding the fact that the Council is rural, it has a staff strength of about one thousand and six hundred, with a monthly wage bill of more than sixty million naira.
He said rather than down-size or even right-size the staff of government, the Ikpeazu administration has conceptualized the option of comparative advantage in service and productivity.
The Commissioner explained that the State Government would rather create opportunities in such areas as agriculture and and information and communication technology to have Abia youths lucratively engaged.
In the same vein, local government councils could also engage aggressively in specific areas of agriculture where they have comparative advantage, be it rice or cassava production or even fishing.
When taken up on problems of workers’ salaries in the State, Rt Hon Enweremadu told the Team that one of the good aspects of Governor Ikpeazu is his firm belief that the worker deserves his wages.
To this extent, the Commissioner informed or reminded the Team that in his determination to make sure arrears of salaries owed workers in the State are cleared before December this year, a Committee, which includes him, has been set up by the Governor. He expressed optimism that the Committee will successfully discharge its mandate appropriately.
For the avoidance of ambiguity, Prince Enweremadu emphasized the point that no civil servant in any Ministry, Department or Agency of Abia State is owed any salary. He said those owed are teachers, local government Council staff and staff of some parastatals whom he believed their case will soon be a thing of the past. He stated that he had just concluded a strategic meeting with a delegation of Local Government Treasurers that afternoon on the same issue of salaries.
Speaking on the essence of Autonomous Communities in the State, Prince Enweremadu, whose pedigree is embellished with royalty, being the first son of the Traditional Monarch of Ngwa land; His Eminence, Eze Bernard Enweremadu, stated that an Autonomous Community could be likened to a fourth tier of government. He said Traditional Rulers have the mandate to protect and preserve their Communities culturally, socially and even economically.
The Commissioner, who expressed satisfaction with the performance of Abia Traditional Rulers, informed the Team that the State Government is presently directing her efforts to creating conducive situations that would make Traditional Rulers in the State wear looks comparable to their counterparts in some other parts of the country.
As it concerns Governor Ikpeazu’s electoral chances in 2019 governorship election, the former Speaker was delighted to note that the narrative among the opposition in the State has changed from ‘what can Ikpeazu do to Ikpeazu has not done enough ‘.
The Commissioner, however, stated that no matter how parochial and unpatriotic the opposition is, the truth can not be faulted that Governor Ikpeazu has performed very credibly in all sectors of governance. He was very hopeful that the Abia electorate will tilt towards Governor Ikpeazu and the PDP in 2019 election.
On an indigene of Arochukwu who falsely claims to hail from Isialangwa just to vie for governorship of the State, Prince Enweremadu expressed disappointment with such open falsehood and deceit.
The Commissioner, who asserted that the house the impersonator built in Isialangwa has become a holiday house, told the Media Team that those who supported the trickster in 2015 have abandoned him and joined Governor Ikpeazu based on his excellent performances.
Rt Honourable Prince Chris Enweremadu concluded by expressing conviction that the Peoples Democratic Party will win the 2019 election not only in Abia State but also in Nigeria.
