ABIA REFORM COMMITTEE: IKPEAZU SETS THE STAGE FOR RESTRUCTURING
Few days ago, precisely on 13th May, 2019, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu through his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu inaugurated a committee to midwife imminent reforms in the State owned parastatals and Institutions.
The reforms committee which was inaugurated in Government House, Umuahia, with a charge to come up with objective report and recommendations that will assist in the delivery of democracy dividends to the people of the State.
It could be recalled that the Governor, had earlier promised to rejig the system in his second term in office, hence his approval for the dissolution of over 32 boards of parastatals in the State.
Inauguration of the committee is coming on the heels of government’s concern with activities of some institutions and parastatals that have affected realization of her cardinal policies. It has become obvious that some of these institutions are performing at their lowest ebb, which has negatively affected realization of the Governor Ikpeazu-led administration’s Five Pillars of Development and its Enablers in the last four years. The Committee is expected to midwife imminent reforms in key State Institutions and Parastatals.
The Committee is also saddled with the responsibility of fashioning out the way forward for realization of better parastatals capable of managing its responsibilities without bringing bad name to the State government. Setting up the committee was necessary following reports of institutional decay found in the establishments concerned. Government had noted revenue leakages, salary padding, general wastages, faulty employment processes amongst others in the institutions, and these activities have made payment of salaries and meeting up with other government obligations difficult. Findings of the committee would certainly assist the government to know the best way forward, especially in the second term of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration.
This is important because, it is in consonance with the determination of the present government to leave indelible marks in the sands of time after the eight year term of office in the State. Setting up this all important committee is very critical to the Ikpeazu-led administration as it would not only help the government identify where the problems of the institutions are, but also the way out. This committee is also apt and timely because of the Governor’s greater determination to consolidate on his achievements through launching into other areas of development that would bring the State into limelight.
It is on record that the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in the last four years, has done his best in giving subventions, paid salaries to institutions that ordinarily, are supposed to carry out her responsibilities and even remit money to government, yet, some of them are still owing salaries of their workers, hence the planned total overhaul of them.
The committee is therefore expected to come up with objective reports and necessary recommendations that would assist in restoring the lost glory of the establishments involved. It would also help Governor Ikpeazu and government of Abia State in the faster delivery of democracy dividends to Abia electorates, who overwhelmingly re-elected the Governor and are expecting much from him in this second tenure.
The committee, comprises experienced people, including Chief (Dr) Chukwuma Agu, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Eze Prof Maxwell Ogbulu, Dr. (Mrs) Chinedu Brown, Mr. Mac Atasie and retired Permanent Secretary, Elder Izima amongst others is expected to perform as it should do its best to do justice to the terms of reference given to it.
The Governor has also inaugurated other committees, that of ASUBEB & SEMB, and Judiciary with a view to setting pace in governance.
Truly, the Governor with the setting up of these committees is poised to change the narrative of the institutions concerned. At the end of the day, it is expected that the committee would come up with ideas on the best way forward for the institutions involved with a view to correcting the anomalies in them that have affected governance negatively in Abia State
Of course, the committee members while accepting the appointment assured the Governor and good people of Abia State that they would perform effectively. There is no doubt that the committee would do the needful as well as meet up with the stipulated time.
Whereas the carefully selected Chief (Dr) Chukwuma Agu’s led committee is expected to perform by visiting the institutions and interfacing with the management where necessary; members of the committee should bring experience to bear and achieve the expected result. Based on the caliber of men in the committee, the Governor is confident in the ability of the committee to come up with a report that would enable him achieve its desired vision in the State.
To Abia State people, let there be patience as the committee works to bring about the better reform in the institutions.
Abia must be great!
UNU,
A concerned Abia citizen writes.
(newmanubani@yahoo.com)
15/05/2019