A lawmaker in Abia State, Obinna Ichita, has said the 2023 Appropriation Act passed by the state House of Assembly does not get the State Government automatic promotion of local government workers.
Mr. Ichita, who represents Aba South State Constituency, made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Umuahia on Friday.
He was reacting to the automatic promotion announced by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu during a meeting with civil servants in the state on Thursday.
He said: “The automatic promotion of local government workers almost a week before the election is a subterfuge.
“There are workers who owe up to 36 months of salary arrears and have never been promoted for years under the Ikpeazu administration.
“The governor has not paid workers allowances and other entitlements since he assumed office in 2015.
“Therefore, the announcement is a lie and cannot fly.
“Also, there is no provision in the 2023 budget to cover salaries for promotions.
“If he is genuine, he will increase the provision for recurring spending so we assume that he is planning to promote workers.”
Mr. Ichita further described the governor’s attitude as “an insult to the collective sensibility of our people.
“It shows that they think the workers are fools to be thrown away with unrealistic promises,” he said.
Another unfulfilled promise
The lawmaker advised workers to ignore the statement and take it as one of the governor’s “false promises”.
“He promised to build Enyimba Economic City, Education City in Owerrinta, reconstruction of Ahiaohuru and Ariaria market in Aba before the end of 2021.
“He also promised an underground tunnel at Ifeobara Pool and the revitalization of the education and health sectors, but all these and more remain unfulfilled,” he said.
The lawmaker also criticized the governor for neglecting critical roads in some areas of Aba, including the Port Harcourt road, which was started but abandoned midway.
He also listed Omuma Road, Obuohia Road and Ohanku Road, among the impenetrable roads in the commercial city “begging for attention”.
He also expressed concern over the deterioration of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, saying the only functional unit in the facility was the mortuary.
Mr. Ichita, who is APGA’s deputy governorship candidate, spoke about APGA’s prospects in the March 18 election.
He said APGA has an “Igbo identity”, and is “fully acceptable” to the people of the country.
“APGA will win the governorship poll because the people believe in us,” he said.
He described the APGA gubernatorial candidate, Greg Ibe, as the candidate to beat.
According to him, Mr. Ibe, a professor, is a top private employer, with huge investment in education in the country.
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“Others are taking their investments to other towns because they say there is no significant return on investment in Abia,” Mr. Ichita said.
He also said that beyond building the university, Gregory University, Uturu, Mr. Ibe has also contributed immensely to the health sector through free medical services and surgeries for the people.
(AT)
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