By Oginyi Ruth
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state on Monday called on civil servants in the state not to succumb to the lies of the opposition All Progressives Congress, saying that his administration meant well for them.
Governor Umahi spoke at PDP rally held at Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
He said APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Sunny Ogbuorji, who made workers’ welfare his campaign slogan, should be ignored because he doesn’t know anything about governance let alone taking care of workers welfare.
According to the Governor, his administration has judiciously utilized the entire fund allocated to the state for the empowerment of the people including the civil servants.
Umahi noted that apart from the regular payment of salaries, he has been paying 13th month to civil servants and pensioners as well as provided N4billion soft loan for them including payment of their health insurance.
He further assured the civil servants that his administration would continue to initiate programmes aimed at improving their welfare.
His words, “You know, the only campaign slogan that this Ogbuorji has is: I will do this, I will do that to civil servants. And I pity him and those falling for such antics. First of all, let him open his house let people come in. That is how you will know a human being. But he will always close his house.
“You know, talk is cheap. You must say something. And he is the one that is looking for the cross without the ground. You talk about what is inside the house without entering the house. I will do this for civil servants and I will do that for civil servants.
“I asked somebody yesterday who said he is contesting for governor. I said: can you define GDP for me? What is the GDP of Ebonyi state now? Because that is the neucleus of the entire thing we are talking about—-the welfare of Ebonyians. How do you do it Or just want to talk?
“So, I want you to ignore him. I want the civil servants to know that we have their best interest at heart.This civil servants are our brother and sisters and they must know that every Kobo we are having we are using it judiciously for the betterment of Ebonyi people.
“Before, nobody wants to say he is from Ebonyi state. We reduced school fees whereas others people are increasing school fees in their universities. We reduced taxes but others are increasing their taxes. We pay 13th month to our civil servants. We give our civil servants rice. We give them 4bn naira loan.
“So, our civil servants should not fall to the antics of people who will not near Government house. We have saved money to pay for our civil servants health insurance scheme, and we are paying our own contribution. Same thing with pension fund.
The same thing we are going to do at the local government level. So, I want you to know that we mean well for you”, said the governor Umahi.
