LGA News

News from Anambra State Local Government Areas

Gov. Soludo’s Palliatives, More Impactful

By Paul Nwosu :

Ever since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) announced the disbursement of N5 billion palliatives to the States, there has been something akin to a stampede by the States to dole out to the people the prescribed items to be procured. While this had been going on, a few uniformed public affairs commentators have made a show of displaying an unusual interest in how Anambra State palliatives would be managed.

Despite their jaundiced commentaries and insinuations, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo (CFR) has remained focused in fore-thinking how well to deliver a more diverse package that would be of better impact to the living conditions of the very low income earners. A well-thought-through programme for maximum impact will significantly mitigate their economic hardship over a sustainable period of time. After all, it is not how fast but how well.

Just like the Good Books in Matthew 4:4 that states: “Man shall not live by bread alone…”, Governor Soludo rightly believes that our people shall not live by palliatives rice and maize alone. Beyond these food items which would be consumed and passed out as wastes over time, there are other departments of living that could be rejigged to support the low income earners to wade through the current economic challenges.

Even so, it is crucial to quickly clarify that out of the N5 billion announced by Mr President to be given to States, it’s only N2 billion that has been released, partly as loan of which the States are expected to pay back 48 percent while the Federal Government will pay the remaining 52 percent.

As things stand, States have been mandated to mainly use this money to procure bags of rice, maize and similar food items to be distributed among the people. To this end, Governor Soludo plans to distribute rice to 300,000 households across 326 wards in Anambra State. This is to ensure that it gets to the “Umunnas” at the grassroots.

Well before the President’s initiative on palliative measures, Governor Soludo had undertaken without being prodded an increase of the salaries of public servants in the employment of Anambra State Government and the Local Governments by 10 percent from January 2023. The Governor did this as his own internal measure to respond to the rising inflation in the country.

With the President’s formal proclamation of the palliatives’ regime, Governor Soludo in his typical approach to such economic issues has dug deeper to come up with more fundamental solutions beyond rice and maize to better shield Anambra people from the turbulent whirlwind that is exerting unusual pressure on the system.

Following the advent of economic palliatives, Governor Soludo has since placed pensioners and public servants on non-taxable cash award of N12,000 monthly from September to December 2023.

The game-changer is of course the tax exemption to vulnerable groups which include hawkers, Okada drivers, wheelbarrow and cart pushers, vulcanizers, artisans and petty traders with less than N100,000 capital.

Another welfare measure taken by Professor Soludo is the declaration of complete free education in public Nursery, Primary and Junior Secondary schools. The fees for public Senior Secondary schools were slashed down to N5,000 per session.

As if that was not enough, Mr. Governor also made antenatal care and child delivery services free in all the government’s General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres in Anambra State. To ensure that quality services are rendered to these women, special telephone lines have been set up for these women to call in case they are not satisfied with the standard of services or care they received.

Government has also awarded the contract for the supply and installation of modern laboratory equipment in all the 326 Primary Health Centres across the State. Modern Tele-medicine Hub and Spoke System have also been established in Anambra State.

Governor Soludo has in the last few months, under the 1Youth, 2Skills programme, trained 5000 youths in 20 different skills, and bank cheques will be doled out to them any moment from now to enable them set up their own businesses.

In addition to the 5,000 teachers already hired by this administration, Governor Soludo is looking forward to hire 3,000 more teachers to reinvigorate the quality of Anambra State public schools.

The renovation and repair of civil servants’ staff buses are ongoing. Governor Soludo plans to introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-fuelled buses to reduce Intra-State transportation costs.

Anambra State Palliative drive has a touch of Mr. Solution. The essence is to make it sustainable over a long period of time.

SIR PAUL NWOSU
Commissioner for Information
Anambra State

Orumba North TC Boss Sets Pace: Commissions Multiple Projects within Short Period

By Chioma Ezeiru :

It was harvest of dividends of democracy and celebration over the weekend at Orumba-North Local Government Area as the action Transition Committee Chairman (TCC), Sir Ogochukwu Ekwueme commissioned five completed capital projects in Ufuma, Ndiowu and Oko communities, with many other community initiative projects still ongoing in different parts of the local government area.

The projects include; a newly drilled borehole water and generator house at Umunebo Ufuma to make drinkable water available and accessible to the people of the community who have suffered lack of accessible water for many decades; Laterite stabilization, drainage and reinforced culvert at Umudiabor-Ndiowu community; six ultramodern toilet and shower facility at Eke Oko market; and renovated borehole water facility with generator house to supply clean water to Eke market and Oko community.

Commissioning the projects, Mr Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, said that the Solution government of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo has come to touch the lives of people and bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

“This is an uncommon development. I thank the transition chairman for the great work he is doing in Orumba-North. The Soludo government believes in and exists for the masses at the grassroots level. We want to bring dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

“We are going into communities to revive many abandoned projects because government is about continuity. Even with the bad economy, Gov. Soludo has achieved so much in less than two years. He is cutting down on every waste and channeling available resources to areas that will improve the lives of the people.

“We are coming to Orumba-North LGA with many packages. This is the first phase of our work in Ufuma, Ndiowu, Oko and other communities. The boreholes will make drinkable water accessible to the people. The ultramodern toilet will provide comfortable convenience for people to use.

“I am very impressed with the quality of work of the culvert and drainage. We will also grade the road and extend the drainage as we hope to link every community and provide accessible road.”

He also appealed to Ndi Orumba-North to keep supporting the TC Chairman and the state government, more importantly to take ownership and protect government projects in their various communities.

Speaking, the Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba North, Sir Ogochukwu Ekwueme noted that the ‘ward choose your project initiative’ was introduced by his team at the ward level where each ward will select a project dear to them.

“We introduced the ‘ward choose your project initiative’ where each ward will choose a project to be carried out in their community by the local government council and this borehole drilled and delivered to Ufuma community is one of such projects.

“Getting good drinking water was a huge challenge in the area as they trekked long distance to get water from the stream. This is a project that will touch and change their lives positively and we give glory to God.

“Also in Ndiowu, we constructed a 72m culvert and drainage system due to the deplorable state of the road there. Now they have accessible road which also link them to Ogboji and other neighbouring communities.

“We also constructed an ultramodern toilet facility with shower at Eke Oko and renovated the borehole water facility there to provide comfort and accessible water to traders and the community.

“We appreciate the local government commission, stakeholders and those who partnered with us and urge them to be patient as more projects will be undertaken and commissioned soon.”

The House of Assembly Member representing Orumba-North constituency, Mr Emeka Aforka while welcoming Mr Commissioner to the local government expressed gratitude for his approval of projects and support to Ndi Orumba.

“Thank you Hon. Commissioner for your magnanimity and benevolence for approving and making these projects possible. Without your support, these projects would not have been carried out and completed. You are very diligent and dedicated to your job.

“The local government has achieved this feat through the hardworking transition chairman. May posterity and history never forget you. The challenges in this area is enormous and we plead for more intervention by the state government through your good office,” he said.

Also, the Orumba North All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairman and borehole contractor, Mr Festus Arukwe thanked the government for the privilege and opportunity to showcase his talent and serve the people.

“We appreciate the Solution government for the great work through the TC Chairman. I am a borehole contractor and I was hired to drill the just commissioned Ufuma borehole. It’s a rare privilege and we did a great work there.

“We will continue to support the Soludo government as Orumba-North is APGA and APGA is Orumba-North,” he said. (Ministry of Information)

The information officer reports from Orumba North LGA

RNI/Ezenwata

TCC Anaocha Lauds Soludo over N1.5B Education Grant to Mission Schools in Anambra State

By Ginika Oguji :

The Transition Committee Chairman (TCC) Anaocha LGA, Mr Gerald Ozoh has commended the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for providing financial support worth about One billion five hundred and twenty four million Naira to Mission Public schools returned to Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches to develop their schools in the state.

Ozoh speaking to journalists after the presentation ceremony at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia on October 5, described Education as a basic tool for shaping humanity and building better future for children.

He extolled Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s genuine efforts toward advancing education to an enviable height in the state, describing him as an education friendly governor.

He encouraged Anambra students to always participate in internal and external examinations, saying that they have been equipped to emerge victorious.

Ozoh noting that Anambra is arguably the light of the nation, called on the authorities of the schools to make judicious use of the funds for the development and betterment of their schools.

Accordingly, a total sum of nine hundred and eighteen million naira (N918,000,000) was handed over to Anambra Catholic Mission Public Schools which has 459 schools that were returned to them.

A total sum of five hundred and fifty million naira (N550,000,000) was handed over to Anambra Anglican Mission Public Schools which has 275 schools returned to them.

Furthermore, a total of sixteen million (N16,000,000) was handed over to Anambra Salvation Army Schools which has 8 schools returned to them.

Also, a total of forty million (N40,000,000) was handed over to Pentecostals which has 20 schools in the State. (Ministry of Information)

The information officer reports from Anaocha LGA

RNI/Ezenwata

Adazi Nnukwu Town Union Boss Pledges Support for Soludo’s Administration

Michael Ezenwata :

The president General, Adazi Nnukwu Town Development Union Chief Cyril Anetoh, has promised that the community will sustain its support for Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration.

In a statement on the 32-year anniversary of the state, Chief Anetoh, an Engineer by profession, observed that the state has progressed under different administrations since its creation.

According to him, Soludo’s administration is taking the state to the next level of development.

Chief Anetoh used the forum to task women on good parental upbringing of their children.

According to the ATDU boss who addressed the Adazi Nnukwu women during their annual August meeting, he expects them to be good home managers to enhance a brighter future for the upcoming generation.

He further informed the women that Adazi Nnukwu has the only functional library in Anaocha Local Government Area with its staff being paid by the state government.

NISS Trains Farmers, Extension Agents on Soil Productivity in Anambra

By Chukwuka Ugokwe :

The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), in collaboration with the Anambra State Agriculture Development Programme (ADP), has begun a two-day capacity-building seminar for Farmers and Extension Agents on the protection and management of soil resources in Anambra State.

No fewer than 70 participants are expected to benefit from the 5th session of the training spread across the three Senatorial Districts of Anambra Central, Anambra North, and Anambra South.

Speaking during the commencement of the training for Anambra Central at the Agricultural Development Programme Hall, Awka, the State Coordinator of NISS, Prof. Peter Nnabude, said the programme was staged to find ways of enhancing the productivity of the soil.

“We are training 14 Farmers and 6 Extension Agents for Anambra Central and will do the same in the other two Senatorial Districts.

“We are aware that our soils are poor, acidic and not properly managed and have therefore commenced various trainings on ways we can facilitate management of our soils at the local level.”

Prof. Nnabude, Soil Management Expert, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, enumerated gains derivable from the seminar to include improvement in the productive capacity of soils, participants skill improvement in terms of soil management, as well as bountiful economic returns.

He added, When the soils are rich, they will yield greater produce, and that translates to greater income. We also advocate integrated soil management, whereby you combine regenerative agriculture, inorganic, and organic systems to boost soil productivity.”

In a comment, the Programme Manager, of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr. Jude Nwankwo, said their agents were ready to internalize and step down knowledge, and information on new technologies and best practices to farmers in the state to enhance bumper harvests.

He, then, encouraged them not to hesitate to go for soil tests to determine if the soil was lacking essential nutrients using simple kits whenever they noticed poor yields.