Two months after Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu commenced his four-year mandate as the governor of Abia State, the direction of governance in the state appears amazing.
With a policy thrust that is occasioned by distinct departure from previous approaches to governance, the administration is boldly making impressions in the hearts of many.
Having optimistically pledged to commence the business of governance by avoiding peculiar distractions that had derailed past administrations in Nigeria, only a few expected less from Ikpeazu.
Be it size of government, attitude to governance or financial prudency, the present administration in Abia seems to be on the path of redefining governance at the state level in the country.
At the risk of sounding patronising, the various governmental policy actions that had taken place across the state since May 29 could cautiously be termed as remarkable. And as such, it becomes easy to say that things are looking up in Abia.
Staff audit in the civil service
Early in the life of the administration, the governor in a pace setting move, halved his salary in line with the stifling financial realities in the country.
Also in that light, his official trips are often done with less aides thereby reducing significantly, the cost of such trips and by extension setting an example for the members of his cabinet.
Another pragmatic step towards cushioning the effects of Abia’s dwindling revenue, was the staff audit in the civil service.
Purposely to put an end to the state’s bloated civil service, the auditing was embarked upon.
It is envisaged that the programme would eventually determine the actual staff strength and weed out the ghost workers through an Integrated Payroll Verification System.
With this in place, the promised prompt payment of salaries on the 24 of each is likely to be realistic.
Observers also see the establishment of Abia State Economic Advancement Team, as a testimony to his commitment towards upping the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
Headed by Ikpeazu, the agency which is expected to drive the state’s economic growth, has a mandate of increasing the IGR from N350 million to N1.5billion within the first year in office.
IGR benchmark
The government intends leveraging on some existing structures to realise the IGR benchmark.
The new Umuahia City which was designed to include modern malls, recreational parks, housing estates, and an International Conference Centre, ICC, is in this category.
For instance, the Conference Centre with capacity of about 9,000 persons would soon be hosting some of the biggest events in the country.
The centre is digital, with advanced information technology such that events can be recorded and the signal beamed live for people to watch anywhere in the world.
There is also the stoppage of tax collection in order to give way to an automated and harmonised tax regime by the Economic Advancement Team.
Recognising the economic potentialities of Aba, all that are needed to reposition the city as a truly commercial city had commenced in line with the maxim that if the government gets Aba right, Abia will be good.
Interest of international agencies
One of such is the clean up of the silted Aba drainage. A working Aba with its number of small and medium scale industries, would surely boost the state’s IGR.
The envisaged gains of resuscitating the commercial hub, is an acknowledged fact by local financial organisations, and international organisations like the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
To ensure that achieving the administration’s objectives regarding Aba, are realised, the Office of Aba Urban Renewal was established.
Interestingly, the rationale for this is to develop every part of Abia by making Aba the spring board.
Ikpeazu also envisions Aba to become the SME Capital of Nigeria in accordance with his campaign pledges.
Findings also showed that contracts for the construction of seven roads in Aba, have been awarded with the intention of commissioning the projects within the first 100 days in office.
Another area of interest in Abia is security and the administration has not hidden its intention of ensuring that Abia is safe for everyone.
A demonstration of such determination, was witnessed in Enyimba Hotel where the government has ensured adequate security. The hotel was reportedly bought 20 years ago by the Aba Chambers of Commerce but later became a haven for criminals in the state.
Indeed, these laudable programmes are believed to have prompted the interest of international agencies in the affairs of the state.
For instance, the African Development Bank (AfDB) granted approval of a $200 million facility for the state to be used in tackling the challenges of water, sanitation and road construction.
With a policy thrust that is occasioned by distinct departure from previous approaches to governance, the administration is boldly making impressions in the hearts of many.
Having optimistically pledged to commence the business of governance by avoiding peculiar distractions that had derailed past administrations in Nigeria, only a few expected less from Ikpeazu.
Be it size of government, attitude to governance or financial prudency, the present administration in Abia seems to be on the path of redefining governance at the state level in the country.
At the risk of sounding patronising, the various governmental policy actions that had taken place across the state since May 29 could cautiously be termed as remarkable. And as such, it becomes easy to say that things are looking up in Abia.
Staff audit in the civil service
Early in the life of the administration, the governor in a pace setting move, halved his salary in line with the stifling financial realities in the country.
Also in that light, his official trips are often done with less aides thereby reducing significantly, the cost of such trips and by extension setting an example for the members of his cabinet.
Another pragmatic step towards cushioning the effects of Abia’s dwindling revenue, was the staff audit in the civil service.
Purposely to put an end to the state’s bloated civil service, the auditing was embarked upon.
It is envisaged that the programme would eventually determine the actual staff strength and weed out the ghost workers through an Integrated Payroll Verification System.
With this in place, the promised prompt payment of salaries on the 24 of each is likely to be realistic.
Observers also see the establishment of Abia State Economic Advancement Team, as a testimony to his commitment towards upping the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
Headed by Ikpeazu, the agency which is expected to drive the state’s economic growth, has a mandate of increasing the IGR from N350 million to N1.5billion within the first year in office.
IGR benchmark
The government intends leveraging on some existing structures to realise the IGR benchmark.
The new Umuahia City which was designed to include modern malls, recreational parks, housing estates, and an International Conference Centre, ICC, is in this category.
For instance, the Conference Centre with capacity of about 9,000 persons would soon be hosting some of the biggest events in the country.
The centre is digital, with advanced information technology such that events can be recorded and the signal beamed live for people to watch anywhere in the world.
There is also the stoppage of tax collection in order to give way to an automated and harmonised tax regime by the Economic Advancement Team.
Recognising the economic potentialities of Aba, all that are needed to reposition the city as a truly commercial city had commenced in line with the maxim that if the government gets Aba right, Abia will be good.
Interest of international agencies
One of such is the clean up of the silted Aba drainage. A working Aba with its number of small and medium scale industries, would surely boost the state’s IGR.
The envisaged gains of resuscitating the commercial hub, is an acknowledged fact by local financial organisations, and international organisations like the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
To ensure that achieving the administration’s objectives regarding Aba, are realised, the Office of Aba Urban Renewal was established.
Interestingly, the rationale for this is to develop every part of Abia by making Aba the spring board.
Ikpeazu also envisions Aba to become the SME Capital of Nigeria in accordance with his campaign pledges.
Findings also showed that contracts for the construction of seven roads in Aba, have been awarded with the intention of commissioning the projects within the first 100 days in office.
Another area of interest in Abia is security and the administration has not hidden its intention of ensuring that Abia is safe for everyone.
A demonstration of such determination, was witnessed in Enyimba Hotel where the government has ensured adequate security. The hotel was reportedly bought 20 years ago by the Aba Chambers of Commerce but later became a haven for criminals in the state.
Indeed, these laudable programmes are believed to have prompted the interest of international agencies in the affairs of the state.
For instance, the African Development Bank (AfDB) granted approval of a $200 million facility for the state to be used in tackling the challenges of water, sanitation and road construction.
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