BY PETER OBI

On  August 15, the feast of Assumption, workers who had been on strike for five working days and those who had been on strike for a much longer time – the judiciary and health workers –resumed work.  Let me, therefore, start by thanking the workers and labour unions for listening to the voice of reason at last. Let me also thank the Anambra State Elders Advisory Council, the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council and Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, as well as other organisations and individuals who contributed to the resolution of the labour crisis.

Above all, let us thank God for His infinite mercy and for allowing us all to listen to the voice of reason.

From the onset of these strikes, I have maintained that we have no compelling reason to take such an action either in the past, today or in the future. I say this with the greatest sense of responsibility, bearing in mind that we have from the inception of this Government, demonstrated commitment to the welfare of workers as evident from our resolve to constantly upgrade their conditions of service. It is on record that we were among the first batch of states in the country that expressed readiness to obey the Minimum Wage Act that stipulates N18, 000 as the minimum wage.

Since the creation of Anambra State, this Government has done more than all the past governments put-together towards the upliftment of the State in all sectors of development, including the welfare of workers. I challenge anybody to prove the contrary.

Under the present Government, and for the first time since the State was created, salaries of civil servants have been increased five times and have been paid consistently. Workers are sponsored to various workshops and trainings, both within and outside the country.

Workers’ promotions are now released as and when due, unlike before 2006 when there were no promotions because promotion was said to be a privilege. Before this administration, teachers stagnated on GL 15; it was my Government that lifted this barrier and they can now be promoted to GL 16 with all the privileges. Similarly, primary school teachers who obtain university degrees can now be promoted alongside their secondary school counterparts with equivalent qualifications, instead of being discriminated against, as was the case before my administration.

Official vehicles/furniture allowances were provided for permanent secretaries and buses for all the ministries and extra ministerial departments; 16-month arrears of the state share of pensions inherited from previous administrations to the tune of about N1 billion have been settled. The liquidation of arrears of Federal share of pensions owed state pensioners has commenced.

Arrears of gratuities inherited from previous administrations have been settled. Retirees now receive their gratuities soon after their retirement along with pensions as at when due. Arrears of course allowances accumulated between 1997 and 2006 have been settled. 23-month arrears of call duty allowances owed medical/dental practitioners from January 2001 to March 2002 have been liquidated.

The first and second phases of the State Secretariat have been completed and put into use with necessary amenities. Salaries of state counsels and those of magistrates have been harmonized. Public service lecture series aimed at improving the quality of public officers through strategic exposure to knowledge have been initiated and sustained. A 1,000 KVA generating set for the new Secretariat Complex was purchased.  Over 3000 staff have been employed in the Civil Service by this Government. Group Personnel Accident Insurance Scheme abandoned since 2003 has been resuscitated with effect from 2008 and premium paid accordingly. The first beneficiaries of this scheme will be paid in two week’s time.

It is clear that neither planning nor policy is our problem, but lack of selfless service and commitment to a better Anambra State. It is also unfortunate that some politicians who lost at the polls and who had in the past led visionless and missionless governments are bent on destroying our vision and mission for a better Anambra State.  When they had the opportunity to serve, they dragged the State into anarchy, state of war and pedestrian politics. Today, they are on the prowl, trying desperately to destroy the enviable achievements of the present Government, which have made us a reference point in the area of good governance and international best practices, and therefore an example for others to emulate.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to mention a few of those examples that distinguish the present Anambra State from the one we used to know:  the European Union has adjudged us the best in the recently concluded 9th edition of its programme (9th EDF), which has earned us additional  N4 billion  support; we recently received close to $1 million for our exceptional performance in UNICEF programme; we received the highest grant under the Millennium Development Goals- Conditional Grant Scheme; we are  receiving support from the World Bank for improvement in health, education, community development, good governance and recently in control of erosion; we have attracted a Fortune 500 company which is  investing $120 million in the State in building their facility that will employ 1,200 people  as well as attract other companies and many more.

At the presentation of my first actual budget to the State in 2008, I maintained that this State must live within its means and that everyone should make necessary sacrifices and ensure that we do not bequeath debt to our children. On my own part, I have drastically reduced the cost of governance, including receiving one of the lowest personal emoluments and allowances for myself and members of my cabinet among the states in Nigeria. Consequently, what I have offered to workers based on the new Minimum Wage Act is what will not lead the State into debts or jeopardize both their pension and gratuity.

It is time we stopped this reckless and irresponsible politics and embrace a committed vision to building a better Anambra State.

I wish to take this opportunity to also plead with our wealthy citizens to give up on conspicuous consumption and help their communities instead. I also plead with them to endeavour to pay their taxes accordingly.

Finally, my dear Ndi-Anambra, the good news is that with the vision and mission we have today, we are on course towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015. The major infrastructural development going on in our State will continue, while new ones particularly in road construction will commence immediately after the rains.

Excerpts from the August 15th broadcast of Gov. Obi to the people of Anambra State