… Promises to pay new minimum wage from this month
Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has said that Abia’s outlook for infrastructural development in 2020 is very bright. This is even as he assured that the state will kickoff the payment of the new minimum wage this January.
Gov Ikpeazu said he has received the report of the committee set up to advise him on the modalities for implementing the new minimum wage and will implement the report.
“I have also received the report of the committee which I set-up to advice me on modalities for implementing the new minimum wage in Abia State and I wish to announce to you that Abia State will, effective January 2020, pay its workers the new Minimum Wage.
“Government is also mindful of the challenges faced by Pensioners in Abia State and is making deliberate efforts to address pension and other debt arrears.
“This is also evidenced by the fact that we have started paying our pensioners from December 2019.
“We will sustain this going forward and ensure that pensioners get paid every month while working out modalities to clear arrears that predate our administration.
“We have reengineered our financial sector for optimal functionality and In the year 2020, we shall endeavour to ensure that all civil servants in Abia State including teachers, staff of parastatals and their pensioners receive their emoluments every month,” he said.
Ikpeazu who said he has recently strengthened some of the state’s critical Agencies with new Management to enhance their effectiveness and in 2020, disclosed that he had given them new mandates to ensure optimal delivery.
“Dear Abians, I am happy to announce that we have put in place financial and logistic modalities to ensure the completion of a number of roads in 2020 and we will intensify efforts in that regard.
“We are also working towards the completion of the processes required for the drawdown of the African Development Bank facility that will enable us revamp infrastructure in Abia State.
“In 2020, we will continue to partner with the World Bank through NEWMAP, RAMP and other intervention programs by sustaining the payment of our counterpart funds to ensure these projects continue,” he said.
The Governor made this disclosure while addressing Abians on the way forward in 2020 and the achievements of the past year.
He also explained that he has given a mandate to our Agencies to fashion out creative means of self-sustainance without having to add to the financial burdens of the state.
In his words, “In the year 2020, we will intensify our pursuit of on-going partnerships for the realization of the Enyimba Economic City project.
“It is expected that the first phase of construction work on the project shall commence shortly in collaboration with our private partners and anchor tenants.
“This project remains the darling of investors everywhere we go and we are elated that it is located in Abia State. We have no doubt whatsoever that the project will succeed.”
Going further he said, “In the year 2020, we will continue our support to the Agricultural sector as a key pillar in our development agenda.
“While intensifying support for primary production, our focus is also shifting to agro-processing. We have earmarked four products – rice, palm produce, cassava and poultry.
“In this category, we will continue to boost both the production and marketing of Abia rice and other specific products. I therefore wish to reiterate my call to Abians with the means to invest in production in Abia State.”
Ikpeazu went on to say that Abia’s economy will grow faster if Abians with means invest their resources in the productive sector of the state.
He described Abia as an investment goldmine and called on Abians both at home and abroad to come and invest in at home so that together, Government and citizens can strengthen the economy of the state.
Speaking on human resources and capacity building Ikpeazu said,
“We are rebuilding markets and shall continue to train our traders and artisans on global best practices to increase their competitiveness.
“Our programme of building the capacity of teachers through continuous training and retraining on core subjects remains ongoing.
“Our policies on Education so far have raised the enrolment in public schools across board. The school lunch programme in the state will be sustained to further improve the outcomes in 2020.
“We shall engage every legitimate instrument to ensure our capacity to advance Abia products in the global market place and integrate technology into the productive activities of our people.
“Our revamped Marketing and Quality Marketing Agency has been mandated to embark on an aggressive standardisation drive to ensure the quality of goods and services in Abia State and I urge businesses to cooperate with them.”
He added that after the success recorded with the revitalization of Golden Guinea Breweries Plc, efforts are ongoing in earnest to restore other moribund industries in Abia State.
“Our Administration has deliberately separated the Ministry of Industry from Trade and Investment, so that it may give attention to this purpose.
“No effort will be spared by this Administration to see these industries back to production.
We are working towards ensuring that by the end of the year 2020, we will announce that one or more of these industries have come back to production.”
