By Cajetan Muta
Anambra’s state Governor, Professor Charles Soludo on Saturday gave a score card of his one hundred days in office which he said has been bumpy and challenging with the zero oil revenue to states and federal government since February this year.
Specifically, the governor decried the worrisome zero oil revenue to deal with the humongous challenges in the government and governance systems in the state and others across the country.
He said that though he is not a fan of 100 days in office, pointing out that within the short period the administration had embarked on addressing fundamental issues towards ensuring a liveable Anambra state where law and order thrives.
Soludo stated this during his statewide broadcast to citizens of the state
He noted that the government has been faced with the daunting task of insecurity aimed at routing criminal elements, priority for youth empowerment, redefining the character of the government, cleaning mountains of refuge, efforts at massive road construction, and recruitment of teachers which would take greater vigor after the rainy season and several other policy programs aimed at repositioning the state.
“We just clocked the first hundred days in office since you employee me and Dr. Onyeka chukwuIbezim as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively. I am not a fan of this fad about this hundred days, I prefer to give a comprehensive annual report and look forward to the first one in March 2023.”
“To be sure, the last hundred days have been bumpy and challenging as expected with insecurity and red treasury being the most impossible. Since February 2022, the contribution of oil revenue from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the federation account has been zero and many states have difficulty paying salaries,” Soludo stated.
“The declining revenue and the context of insecurity and over N20bn in the areas of gratuity to pensioners since 2018 vis a vis the sky high expectations from you our employers, since then some fundamental disruptive tendencies are then inevitable.”
“We have spent the last hundred days addressing some key foundational issues, part of which are to make some key appointments, mobilize the people of the state to take back the state from criminals, domestic and comprehensive attack on criminals, reverse the 2022 budget, declaration of State of Emergency on roads and traffic and preparation to the flag of over 220 kilometers of road constructions”, amongst others across the state.
He assured the people that, “so far, so bumpy and so good, we are unrelenting,” adding that despite the challenges the people are united and collaborating with the state government as well as security agencies in fighting criminal elements to rid the various forests, bushes and houses of criminals.
“No forests, bushes, and houses will be safe for criminal elements. We will smoke them out,” he said.
According to him,” criminals invaded us and they are mostly not from Anambra’ state because money is involved. Anybody that tells you that he is agitating for anything it’s false but because they are doing whatever because of lucrative Criminal enterprise.”
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The governor explained that thousands of teachers would retire between this and next year and that’s why we are recruiting teachers as well as doctors and nurses for the health sector.
He expressed appreciation to all stakeholders including leadership and members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), traditional rulers, captains of industry, market leaders and traders, the media, the international community and civil society a, and other support groups and reiterated the resolve to keep to his promise of making the state proud and haven for all.
