In order to continue to maintain a clean environment in Enugu state, especially within Enugu metropolis and Nsukka Urban area, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has procured mowing machines to achieve this goal.
The governor who recently approved the recruitment of 30 additional mower operators and road sweepers for the state capital also procured 54 brush cutters and 35 safety boots for the state Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources to ensure clean environment.
While handing over the equipment to the trained staff at the State Secretariat Complex, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Bernadine Ezugwu, who represented the commissioner for environment, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, said the gesture was the initiative of the state government geared towards maintaining a clean metropolis to ward off any health hazard that could result from a dirty environment, adding that the state government has engaged more staff to ensure the success of the programme.
She stated that “Our amiable governor approved the purchase of 54 brush cutter machines and the employment of 30 additional mower operators to help in cutting of grasses in Enugu Metropolis. this was approved during the state Executive Council Meeting.
“He also approved the return of road sweepers from the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) to the state Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.
“He equally approved the employment of 30 additional ad hoc road sweepers for Nsukka urban. Presently, we have 150 road sweepers in the state; 120 for Enugu metropolis and 30 for Nsukka urban. He also increased their stipends to almost 100 percent for the mower operators and road sweepers”, she said.
Mrs. Ezugwu also said that the ministry has been planning, organizing the recruitment of the staff, training and assigning duties to them to ensure efficiency at the duty posts, adding that they have been assigned specific areas in order to ensure their optimum performance.
She explained that the state has been divided into six zones with some of the heads of the departments of the ministries to supervise the staff at least three times a week and report back to the ministry for the follow-up actions.
When asked whether the ministry has devised maintenance strategy for the new machines, she said, “we have a retainership with Green Garden Mechanic. He is responsible for the maintenance of the faulty machines. He is asking for a review of the maintenance fee due to the increment in the number of the machines”.
Mrs. Ezugwu enjoined the public to join hands to keep Enugu clean by desisting from any act that would warrant environmental degradation. She also charged the general public to report wanton staff to the ministry for appropriate punitive measures.
