Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has assured the people of the state that his administration will not tamper with the funds of the Local Government Councils in the state.
Governor Ugwuanyi, however, stated that he would put in place all necessary checks and balances to ensure that all council funds were judiciously utilized for the overall interest of the people, stressing that “our government will be a serious business”.
The Governor made the declaration while briefing stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state at an interactive meeting held in Enugu during the weekend.
He reaffirmed his resolve not to take the people for granted and went further to announce his decision to make accountability the watch word of his administration in order to utilize the lean resource of the state for the betterment of the people, considering the adverse effects of the economic melt-down in the country.
Ugwuanyi assured the people of the state that his administration will commence actions the moment the new State House of Assembly is inaugurated.
He revealed that his administration had identified areas that require urgent intervention but was only waiting for the constitution of the new State House of Assembly to be able to present a supplementary budget that would accommodate its action plan for the immediate development of the affected places.
The Governor who revealed that the members of the incoming State legislature have promised to give the executive arm of government the maximum support and cooperation it requires to move the state forward, thanked the stakeholders for giving him their support for him, as a matter of priority, to embark on rapid development of Nsukka town, 9th mile corner- Ngwo, Abakpa-Nike Enugu, Emene, Awgu, Oji River and other satellite towns in the state.
Earlier, Ugwuanyi informed the stakeholders that the purpose of the meeting was to thank them for the support, interact with them and seek advice on how best to move the state forward and serve the people who voted the party into power.
“I will not take the people for granted. This is because power belongs to the people who voted us into power through their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). So we are here to discuss amongst ourselves, to know what the people need and take better advice that will better the lives of our people” said Ugwuanyi.
Governor Ugwuanyi disclosed that his administration will reconstitute the State Elders Council to offer advice to the government on how to move the state forward.
He also revealed that his administration will set up an Economic Committee to harness ideas on how to boost the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through their wealth of experience, adding that a Tender Board will as also be constituted for the award of contracts in the state for transparency and accountability.
Other dignitaries that attended the meeting include: the Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Nwamba, State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, two Senators-Elect, Senator Gil Nnaji and Hon. Chuka Utazi, the State Chairman of ALGON, Hon. Cornelius Nnaji and other Council Chairmen, former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, among others.
