Gov. Ikpeazu's Approach Towards Governance.
The Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has shown a high level of transparency and has accounted to the last kobo of his daily activities as the Chief Executive of the State. For there are two ways to measure good governance: transparency and accountability. Transparency refers to openness in decision making and enforcement especially in accordance with established rules and regulations while accountability ensures that all institutions as well as civil organizations are accountable to the public. One of the innovative strides achieved by Gov. Ikpeazu is the quarterly press briefing he initiated in order to intimate his electorate on the things so far achieved, the things to expect and modalities in place to achieve them. The Governor goes on air to interact with Abians, responds to their questions and he is usually accompanied by some of Commissioners who answer questions patterning to their ministries. This shows the man in Gov. Ikpeazu and the high level of transparency of his government.
Abia State under Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has experienced unprecedented economic growth. This has happened as a result of his effort to tackle the road menace affecting the state, and this has helped in sustaining economic activities across the state, more especially in Aba, the commercial hub of the state. The economic growth of Abia State has entered a new dimension, what with the accelerated growth and demand of our local products and its consequent positive impact on the economic development of the State.
One of the questions the Governor responded to during the press briefing for the last quarter of 2017 was on road construction. Gov. Ikpeazu is the only Governor that has achieved in three years what his predecessors could not achieve in eight years of their governance. He has received applause from people within and outside the state. Within three years, Gov. Ikpeazu is working on 73 roads simultaneously across the state and 47 of such roads have been completed of which Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the State, with so much neglect by previous administration getting the lion's share of the roads.The Ikpeazu road revolution has indeed turned the state into a huge construction site where caterpillars, bulldozers and earth moving equipment are at work round the clock. He is using cement technology, a cost intensive project and good drainage network.
Faulks road and Sameck, places in Aba that used to be heart-breaking for resident are now receiving a facelift. The positive economic impact the roads have is duly acknowledged by Gov. Ikpeazu because they serve as links to Ariaria International Market. Gov. Ikpeazu is making sure that the roads are completed. The building of Faulks Road will enable a seamless movement to and fro Ariaria International Market since the road remains one of its main access road as much as it is a link to other roads. Economic activities around the area will become intensified all to the benefit of the members of the business community and the State in general.
Another issue talked about was security. The Governor called on the perpetrators of crime and the vandals of public property to desist from their act, he reiterated that the government will use every means available to bring them to book. Lack of security of lives and properties of the citizens is a severe hindrance to meaningful development. A climate of fear will frighten domestic and foreign investors. The effects of crime on the State's economy are damaging. The State cannot be viable economically, neither can the system generate enough support and affection required for a sustainable economic and infrastructural development. Addressing the security-development nexus is therefore an imperative moral and political obligation guiding Gov. Ikpeazu's action towards providing good governance.
Finally, on the payment of salaries in the state, its should be noted that Abia State pays higher salary than Imo, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi State. Even with the high rate of salary payment in the state, Gov. Ikpeazu restated that he is not going to downsize Abia workers like most States did and are still doing. The bottom line remains that while 66 MDAs out of the 67 that make up the core civil service are up to date on salaries, we still have challenges in paying teachers, HMB, ABSUTH, ABIA POLY and LGAs and the challenges will be met and overcome while still delivering on key programmes of the government outside the wages of 38,000 workers in the state.The intention of Gov. Ikpeazu is to use the 3rd tranche of Paris Club refund to, as much as possible, pay teachers, pensioners and others whose salaries are yet to be paid.
Kingsley Maduforo, a Media Analyst, writes from Aba.
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