. Orders enforcement of policy on out-of-sch children

By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA – Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, has sworn in Edo State-born Mr Benson Ojeikere as the new Head of Service, HoS, for the state.

This is as the State Government has commenced enforcement of the new policy on Out-of -School children which makes education free and compulsory for every child in Abia from primary to junior secondary school three, JS111, but recommends sanctions for defaulting parents and guardians

Ojeikere was appointed the Acting HoS in December following the retirement of the former HoS, Dr Ngozi Obioma.

Otti, in a release by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, said Ojeikere’s swearing in was a reaffirmation of his commitment to meritocracy.

“The Governor applied his policy of ‘If you live in Abia, You are Abian’ and demonstrated the true meaning of One Nigeria as captured in the letters of the National Anthem – ‘Though Tribe and Tongue, May Differ, In Brotherhood We Stand”, the release stated.

According to the release, Mr Ojeikere was a Youth Corps member from Edo State posted to Abia State in the late 90s, and from sheer hard work, he emerged as the best Corps member and was given automatic employment in the State Civil Service.

He was earlier appointed a Permanent Secretary in 2023 by Gov. Otti, and following his emergence as the best in the selection process for the Head of Service of the State, and was appointed to the position on merit and competence.

The release said Otti congratulated Ojeikere for emerging the best in the selection process and challenged him to transform the State Civil Service into an effective and efficient workforce.

It said that the HoS, had while responding, thanked the Governor for “the rare and unusual opportunity given to him to serve as the State’s No. 1 Civil Servant.”

He promised to work with the Government to reposition Abia State Civil Service, and make it a model for other states .

The ceremony was witnessed by all Government appointees present during the first enlarged State Executive Council Meeting of the year.

Briefing newsmen later after the State Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, described as unprecedented, the appointment of Mr Ojeikere, a non indigene as HoS in Abia.

The Commissioner said Otti had once again, demonstrated his value for merit above premodial sentiments.

He said:”This is a landmark appointment given the fact that he is not from Abia state but because His Excellency believes in meritocracy and that there is no dividing line between an Abia citizen or a resident. Once you are living in Abia, you are part and parcel of Abia state.

“It s an unprecedented move consistent with the Governor’s disposition towards meritocracy and policy of indigeneship.”

The commissioner who stated that the appointment underscored “the Governor’s belief in the principle that all residents of Abia, regardless of origin, are equal stakeholders in the state’s progress, expressed faith that Ojeikere would bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new appointment.

Speaking further, the Commissioner said the State Government had commenced enforcement of the Out-of-School policy it had earlier announced last year.

The Commissioner said that a special taskforce had been set up to enforce the policy, warning that defaulters will be dealt with.

“The out of School policy of the state government has commenced officially with the reopening of schools on Monday, January 13. A special taskforce to enforce compliance has been put in place by the State Government.”

The Commissioner who said that the policy was very dear to the heart of the Governor, added that Otti’s intention “is to achieve a zero tolerance with out of school children in the state.”

“So in the days ahead, this special taskforce will ensure the compliance of this policy that is directed to ensure that the indigenes of the state who are indigent for some reasons or the other are not left behind in regards to education which of course we know is the best way to empower people.”

On the stand-off between Abia State Government and judiciary workers, the Commissioner explained that contrary to claims by the judiciary workers, the State Government was not owing them.

He said that Government had released over N300 million due to them to their Management since last year in compliance with the financial autonomy of the judiciary, and wondered why the Management of the judiciary had not paid the workers.

The Commissioner asked the judiciary workers to rather hold their Management and not the State Government responsible for their ordeals.

” It’s not true for them to say Government is owing them. This Government has released over N300 million to the Judiciary based on its financial autonomy. They get their own money and pay their staff. So, why haven’t they paid after receiving money from Government?

Contributing, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, debunked allegation by the Judiciary Union Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, that the State Government reneged in its agreement with the workers on consequencial adjustment.

He said Government did not enter into any agreement with JUSUN on the said matter, explaining that JUSUN never honoured the invitation by Government during negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on consequencial adjustment.

According to him, JUSUN only later came up with figures it computed by itself without inputs from Government, demanding that Government must pay same to their members as the new minimum wage.

He explained that the State Government inherited so much debt from the past administration, and had other financial obligations to shoulder, and would not be able to pay jumbo salaries as new minimum wage to Judiciary workers as being demanded by JUSUN.

” You can’t just compute figures and give Government to pay. How can they be claiming that Government is owing them N900 million. How did they arrive at that?”

He further explained that while other civil servants in the state receive N70,000 as new minimum wage, judiciary workers get about N83,000 as minimum wage.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha, who was also at the meeting, challenged the Management of the judiciary to explain to its workers and members of the public why over N300 million released to it had not been disbursed.

“Assuming and not conceding that Government is owing them N900 million as they are claiming, why have they not disbursed the N310 million already released to them since last year?” He queried.

Ukoha said that no amount of blackmail against Otti’s administration which had demonstrated unprecedented care for the welfare of workers would fly.