PBA ReporterAnambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has increased salaries of civil servants by 10 percent.
Governor Soludo, who made the declaration at the celebration of the 2022 Public Service Day at the State Secretariat Complex Awka, also promised to give them N15,000 as Christmas bonus.
The theme for the event was: “Performance Management System: Impact on the Nigerian Public Service.
The Governor expressed empathy for income earners, especially in light of the dwindling economic situation in the Country.
Lamenting the current economic hardship in the country, Governor Soludo said: “Given my own background as a worker, what we are not able to do for the working class, you must understand it is literally impossible.”
The governor said the state government could not afford to give the workers bags of rice as was the case in the past because of the high cost of things currently.
“The state of Nigeria is bad. Everybody is complaining. Prices are rising very fast, I look at you and wonder how you cope.
“Today, 50kg bag of rice costs over ₦40,000. That’s beyond the salary of a graduate in public service. Something is not right!
“What we will do instead, between today and tomorrow, we will, first of all, make sure that our pensioners are taken care of, to demonstrate good faith. I wish we could do much more but today, you will receive an alert of fifteen thousand naira (₦15,000) as Christmas bonus”, Governor Soludo assured.
“The income is not increasing, government revenue is not increasing. We cannot print money.
“I understand what you feel and wish that our revenue will go up so we can multiply what comes to you in proportion to Nigeria’s inflation.
“The Head of Service made a request for releasing funds to process promotion.
“We have made the budget for next year and it has been signed. Any new thing not in the budget can’t be done.
“I received a report a few days ago recommending minor adjustments in salaries. We will review it and see if it is feasible,” Soludo stated.
“From February to date, NNPC has not remitted a dime to the federation account and our state of finances means we can’t do everything at the same time but, we have to prioritize and that’s why we are collecting taxes.
“Next year, Lagos is expecting to collect N100 billion a month from IGR while Anambra is still aiming at N3 billion. But I assure ndi Anambra that any money that comes into our hands, we will utilize them judiciously,” Soludo promised.
“During last year’s Public Service Day, I was here to plead for your votes. Today, I have appeared to you as the Governor of this state. You employed me as your Chief servant and I am your employee.
“I thank you for your services to Anambra. I am the Chief Public Servant and without you, there will be no public service.
“The Civil servants contribute to what is making Anambra to be what it is today. I commend all the ministries and the staff of Anambra State Public Service.
“I congratulate the 33 selected awardees specially recognised but it doesn’t mean others aren’t working hard.
“I also commend the commissioners, Managing Directors and Heads of Parastatals.
“We promised to create a liveable and prosperous homeland. This is our mission and you all shall deliver it. We delivered this message through the head of service.
“We are not supposed to be celebrating public service at this time of the year but I insisted, to thank you all for the year 2022 before we cross over into 2023”, the governor stated.
“Our five fingers of Government include: Security, law and order; Economic transformation, social agenda, reforming ways government works and the environment.
“Eight local governments were taken over by criminals when we came into power and we have taken over our land from criminals. We have driven them away from our bushes and forests.
“Someone in Finland declared 5 days sit-at-home but in Anambra, the sit-at-home was not observed”, Soludo stressed.
“We will get back to work full scale, working five days in a week. When we work four days and our children go to school only four days, we won’t deliver the same thing as those who work for five days.
“We must take back our state otherwise, we are losing 20 per cent each week. Security, law and order must come back fully into Anambra. Kidnappers and criminals must give way in our state.
“100 per cent of those we have caught are Igbos but it must come to an end”, Soludo further assured.
“We are launching regenerative agriculture, trying to get major industrial parks to work. We are signing MOU with EEDC to ensure that there is 24 hours provision of power, especially in the three major cities of the state.
“Streetlights are coming back. It’s not possible to keep powering them with diesel now that a litre is over N800. We are replacing them with solar because it is more sustainable and strategic.
“On the road, we declared a state of emergency because Anambra has a road crisis. We have awarded over 250 km of roads.
“Within the next 24 months we must deliver and it will be unprecedented in the state. We have just been in the office for nine months but things are happening.
“On our social agenda, we are ending the era of hospitals without doctors, nurses and consultants. We have recruited over 200 personnel in our general Hospitals.
“We handed appointment letters to five thousand (5000) teachers within nine months of our regime. The process was 100 percent merit-based, and transparent and we are looking for the best no matter where they come from. Our interest is that the child should be taught by the best teacher available and this is what we have set out to do.
“Teaching is a vocation and calling, it is not just a job! What we have done is unique in Anambra Teaching Service”, said Governor Soludo.
“We celebrate our public servants most especially our teachers because everyone was taught by a teacher.
“Five thousand youths are currently undergoing various trainings- one youth two skills programme, and by next year, we will be dishing out several billions to empower them.
“In security, we have recruited vigilantes and empowered other security apparatus to keep Anambra safe”, Soludo said.
“We have a slogan, “cut all cutables and boycott all bycottables.” That is the way we are managing resources and that’s how we are paying the bills.
“When we came in, pensioners hadn’t received their gratuities since 2018 but we felt that it’s not the way to go. To watch the retirees work for over 30 years without gratuities, we felt it was painful.
“Under my watch, everyone that retired in the Anambra public service has been paid their gratuities. For those who retired since 2018, we are doing payments gradually to restore hope to them.
In her opening speech, the Head of Service, Barrister Theodora Igwegbe, thanked God for keeping everyone alive to witness the first public service day under the new administration.
“We recognize, reward hardwork and excellence of colleagues who have distinguished themselves in the discharge of their duties.
“We rededicate our service to discipline and service delivery to our people,” she stated.
“It is an annual event slated for 23rd of June every year but every state is entitled to fix their own date.
“Public service is bound on public trust”, she said.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria developed a framework to institutionalize public service. In the development of civil service, I came up with a development plan and a blue print designed and approved by the Anambra ANSEC on 8th of August 2022.
“They are aligned to the vision of Governor soludo’s administration. The systematic core areas are underlisted as follows: Capacity building, performance management, service delivery, anti-corruption, value proposition and digitization”, she pointed out.
“On Staff welfare, enumeration and reward, states should review staff salaries, promotions and reward system. It will make the service attractive to pools of talents and make workers motivated to give their best at all times.
“A proposal of the full minimum wage have been submitted and we await due approval.
“Mr Governor has graciously paid leave allowance for 2022 and December salaries”, she noted.
“Declining efficiency, productivity, low morale of workers are some of the challenges of civil servants.
“Our appeal to Mr Governor is for the full implementation and consideration of the national minimum wage in the state, upward review of salaries to mitigate economic challenges of the country, appeal for approval of funds for civil service commission to conduct 2023 promotion interviews, appeal for provision for official cars for permanent secretaries and directors as done in the past, provision of work tools, computers and procurement of buses to ease transportation challenges of civil servants.
“We also plead for appointment of permanent secretaries as present ones are in charge of two ministries which is presently affecting productivity, Billboards for Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex Awka, desilting of drainages in the complex, office furniture procurement for use in the offices, repainting of buildings and fence of the Secretariat Complex.
“We promise and pledge our full dedication and commitment to you and your Government. We vow to work assiduously, to ensure that your vision for the state is judiciously implemented,” she assured.
Presentation of certificate of recognition to thirty-three (33) officers, drawn from various ministries for their exemplary services and dedication was highpoint of the event.
In attendance were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Former Head of Service, Mr. Harry Uduh, Accountant General of the State, Dr. Chukwudi Okoli, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief ot Protocol, Mr. Chinedu Nwoye, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Mr. Anthony Ifeanya, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, Commissioner for Lands, Offornze Amucheazi, Commissioner for Culture and Entertainment, Mr Donatus Onyenji, National President of ASATU, Barr. Titus Akpudo, MD ASWAMA, Mr Mike Ozoemena, Members of Boards and Parastatals, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, among others.
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