GOV. OBIANO COMMENDED FOR INSISTING ON PROMPT PAYMENT OF WORKERS' SALARIE

Governor Willie Obiano’s insistence on prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries, despite the harsh economic realities of the day, has been described as a highly commendable decision that singles him out as an enigmatic leader with human conscience. A former Commissioner for Lands in the State and Private Legal Practitioner, Chief John Okoli-Akirika, expressed the view in his office in Awka in a chat with Correspondent, Kenechukwu Ofomah. Chief Okoli-Akirika, who, said for any government to be deemed responsive and focused, its policies and programmes must be anchored on first for the welfare of the governed, observed that by the gesture, Governor Obiano has once again exhibited a high degree of administrative responsiveness. According to him, when some state governments in the country are considering retrenching workers or reduction in their salaries as a way out of the financial crisis, the present administration is not only insisting on payment but also on making it prompt and regular. He noted that Governor Obiano has also ensured that all projects started by his predecessor are continued and completed, while commencing new ones, describing him as a proactive leader who has combined vision with managerial ability in the administration of the affairs of the state. Chief Okoli-Akirika called on workers in the state to reciprocate the Governor’s gesture by ensuring that they carry out their duties with high sense of dedication and in a manner that will give impetus to what government is doing in transforming the state to the next level. On how to scale the financial crisis, Chief Akirika advised the affected states to adopt Governor Obiano’s plan which include diversification of the state economy, aggressive IGR drive, focus on attracting investors as well as huge investment in repositioning the agricultural sector to become the mainstay of the state economy. It will be recalled that Governor Obiano has overtime maintained his stance not to renege on prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries, despite the significant downturn in the state’s share of the Federal Allocation. This is however coming against the backdrop of the inability of twenty-three out of the thirty-six states of the federation, to pay their workers’ salaries. — with Nnamdi Okafor, Rtn Ifeanyi Ifeadinmesi Aniagoh, Diam