Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has formally reopened the newly retrofitted Nnamdi Azikiwe State Secretariat in Umuahia after months of extensive remodeling, retrofitting, and external works aimed at restoring the dignity and productivity of the state’s workforce.
The upgraded secretariat is designed to accommodate close to 1,000 personnel, housing four different MDAs on a permanent basis, as well as four additional ministries temporarily.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Secretariat Complex, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, Governor Otti described the renovation as another indicator of his administration’s commitment to transforming the state’s civil service.
He recalled that the initiative followed other significant projects, such as the commissioning of the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) Building in May and the improvement of office spaces for the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the Civil Service Commission, and other parastatals.
The governor, underscoring the vital role of an efficient civil service in achieving his administration’s development objectives, reiterated his commitment to creating a conducive working environment that fosters optimal productivity and enhances the dignity of the state workforce.
“We are not just building and retrofitting structures that excite onlookers; the functionality of the buildings is as important as the aesthetics,” Governor Otti stated.
“The extensive investments in the restoration, acquisition, and construction of office complexes speak to the state government’s determination to create a robust civil service architecture.
“An effective and responsive civil service system is pivotal to the successful delivery of our governance objectives. The reforms we intend to implement will be stifled without a motivated civil service to drive our policies and programs.
“In light of the immense role an organized and result-oriented civil service plays in achieving the policy direction of governments, one can confidently say that our capacity to pursue key development objectives depends extensively on the quality of the civil service.”
Governor Otti disclosed that the state government leveraged the expertise of its civil service workforce to execute the project, significantly reducing costs to ₦900 million, compared to the estimated ₦2 billion if outsourced to private contractors.
The governor emphasized that the direct labor approach not only saved funds but also enhanced the technical capacity of civil servants, created employment opportunities, and empowered local businesses that supplied materials for the project.
He assured workers of his administration’s dedication to their welfare and urged them to reciprocate with professionalism, punctuality, and dedication to service.
In his address, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, described the reopening of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat as part of the administration’s integrated plan to significantly upgrade the entire secretariat complex. He stressed the importance of ensuring that public buildings are co-located in a conducive environment befitting civil servants.
The commissioner recalled that the secretariat, originally constructed in 1993 during the Ibrahim Babangida administration, had deteriorated over the years and was eventually abandoned by the previous administration due to concerns about its structural integrity.
He praised Governor Otti’s administration for fulfilling its promise to rebuild and modernize Abia’s public service infrastructure. He noted that the newly retrofitted secretariat now boasts restored water and electricity supply, new furnishings for approximately 150 offices, four newly introduced boardrooms, and a state-of-the-art 240-seater conference hall.
Mr. Chukwumerije outlined additional works in progress as part of the holistic upgrade of the secretariat, including the construction of a new secretariat block to accommodate more MDAs, the provision of a crèche, the opening of the utility area, the completion of roadworks, and the provision of alternative energy sources for the complex.
Speaking on behalf of the Abia workforce, the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Obioma, described the commissioning of the retrofitted secretariat complex as a testament to the present administration’s commitment to revitalizing the civil service, which she noted had been on a “downward spiral” prior to Governor Otti’s assumption of office.
She commended the governor for recognizing that decent and conducive accommodations serve as a motivation for qualitative service delivery. She lauded his commitment to transforming the administrative, infrastructural, and social landscape of the state.
