July 13, 2015 : 247GIST PRESS Leave a Comment
The
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has described the 50 per cent pay cut
by some state governors as highly insignificant and not enough to
stimulate the desired development in their respective states.
He said this on Sunday while fielding
questions from journalists after paying a courtesy call on the former
President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in his hilltop presidential
residence in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.
According to him, mere cutting of
take-home by some state governors by half cannot be described as
significant. Rather, he said governors in the country should evolve
sustainable programmes that will make their states more viable and
productive.
He said, “To me, this 50 per cent pay
cut by some of the governors is not the way out of our present situation
in the country. For instance, I earn N600,000 per month and if that is
halved, I will take home N300,000 in a month. That is not the kind of
money that will turn around the fortune of my people in Ebonyi State.
“I strongly feel we should go beyond
that level; we should endeavour to re-invent our respective states to
make them viable and more productive.”
Umahi, who said he never believed in the
ritual of 100 days in office celebration, pointed out that he hit the
ground running immediately he assumed office to ensure Ebonyi State “is
re-positioned for investment capable of increasing the wealth of the
state.”
While he noted that the global fall in
oil prices was good for Nigeria, he added that the shortfall in oil
revenue would wake up governors to the reality on ground and spur them
to look inwards to harness other resources in their states to generate
revenue.
Umahi said he had taken steps to boost
the state’s Internally Generated Revenue in order to fulfil campaign
promises he made to the people.
He said, “Since revenue being generated
from oil has dwindled which has led to serious reduction in Federal
Allocation, our administration has taken steps to look for alternative
means of generating money.
“First, we upgraded our civil service
because that is key to the actualisation of our policies. Then, we are
working seriously to bring in as many investors as possible into our
state to partner with us especially on rice production.
“I sincerely find it ridiculous that as at now, we still import food and something as minute as toothpicks from overseas.
“With huge investment and
infrastructure, Ebonyi has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed
Nigerians and even produce for export. This is because of our vast land
for rice cultivation and people who have a lot of potential.
“In Ebonyi, we have others like five
rice mills but there is paucity of fund to make the facilities
world-class. And on this, we have approached the Federal Government for
assistance.
“Apart from that, we will tap the
mineral resources like copper, bauxite, clay and other God-given
resources, and make the state one of the best in the country.”
When asked about the relationship
between him and his immediate predecessor, Martin Elechi, Umahi said
“like former President Obasanjo told me, I will definitely continue the
good projects embarked upon by the former governor and adjust where
necessary, all in the name of making our people reap the benefits of
good governance.”
The former president said he believed
Umahi would perform well as a governor, having been not only “in the
corridor of power but in the sitting room of power.”
He advised him to explore the agricultural potential of the state in the area of rice production.
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