Abia: Automatic promotion of Ikpeazu to workers not taken into account in 2023 budget – Legislator
An Abia state legislator, Obinna Ichita, said the Appropriation Act 2023 passed by the state legislature did not take into account the automatic promotion of the state government to local officials.
Mr. Ichita, representing Aba South State Constituency, made the revelation while speaking with reporters in Umuahia on Friday.
He was reacting to the automatic promotion announced by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu during a meeting with state officials on Thursday.
He said: "The automatic promotion to local officials coming barely a week before the election is just a gimmick.
"Some workers owe up to 36 months back wages and never received any promotions for many years under Ikpeazu's administration.
“The governor has not paid workers compensation or other entitlements since taking office in 2015.
"Therefore, the ad is misleading and cannot fly.
"In addition, there is no provision in the 2023 budget to cover the salaries of the promotion.
"If he was genuine, he would have increased the provision for recurring expenses so that we assume he was planning to promote workers."
Mr. Ichita further described the governor's gesture as "an insult to the collective sensibility of our people.
“It shows that he thinks the workers are fools for getting carried away with his unrealistic promise,” he said.
Other broken promisesThe lawmaker advised workers to ignore the statement and consider it one of the governor's 'false promises'
"He promised to build Enyimba Economic City, Education City in Owerrinta, reconstruction of Ahiaohuru and Ariaria markets in Aba before the end of 2021.
“He also promised an underground tunnel at the Ifeobara pond and the revitalization of the education and health sectors, but all of these and many more have not been delivered,” said- he said.
The lawmaker also criticized the governor for not paying attention to critical roads in parts of Aba, including the Port Harcourt road, which he started but abandoned halfway.
He also listed Omuma Road, Obuohia Road, and Ohanku Road, among the deplorable roads in the commercial city "demanding attention".
He also expressed concern over the dilapidated state of Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba, saying the only functional unit of the facility was the morgue.
Mr. Ichita, a candidate for vice-governor of the APGA, discussed the prospects for the APGA in the elections on March 18.
He said the APGA carries “Igbo identity” and was “fully acceptable” to the people of the state.
“APGA will overwhelmingly win gubernatorial elections because our people believe in us,” he said.
He described APGA gubernatorial candidate Greg Ibe as the candidate to beat.
According to him, Mr. Ibe, a professor, is the largest private employer of labor, with a huge investment in state education.
READ ALSO: Labor Party could end up like APGA - a failed experiment, By Fredrick Nwabufo"Others invest in other cities because they say there is no meaningful return...
An Abia state legislator, Obinna Ichita, said the Appropriation Act 2023 passed by the state legislature did not take into account the automatic promotion of the state government to local officials.
Mr. Ichita, representing Aba South State Constituency, made the revelation while speaking with reporters in Umuahia on Friday.
He was reacting to the automatic promotion announced by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu during a meeting with state officials on Thursday.
He said: "The automatic promotion to local officials coming barely a week before the election is just a gimmick.
"Some workers owe up to 36 months back wages and never received any promotions for many years under Ikpeazu's administration.
“The governor has not paid workers compensation or other entitlements since taking office in 2015.
"Therefore, the ad is misleading and cannot fly.
"In addition, there is no provision in the 2023 budget to cover the salaries of the promotion.
"If he was genuine, he would have increased the provision for recurring expenses so that we assume he was planning to promote workers."
Mr. Ichita further described the governor's gesture as "an insult to the collective sensibility of our people.
“It shows that he thinks the workers are fools for getting carried away with his unrealistic promise,” he said.
Other broken promisesThe lawmaker advised workers to ignore the statement and consider it one of the governor's 'false promises'
"He promised to build Enyimba Economic City, Education City in Owerrinta, reconstruction of Ahiaohuru and Ariaria markets in Aba before the end of 2021.
“He also promised an underground tunnel at the Ifeobara pond and the revitalization of the education and health sectors, but all of these and many more have not been delivered,” said- he said.
The lawmaker also criticized the governor for not paying attention to critical roads in parts of Aba, including the Port Harcourt road, which he started but abandoned halfway.
He also listed Omuma Road, Obuohia Road, and Ohanku Road, among the deplorable roads in the commercial city "demanding attention".
He also expressed concern over the dilapidated state of Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba, saying the only functional unit of the facility was the morgue.
Mr. Ichita, a candidate for vice-governor of the APGA, discussed the prospects for the APGA in the elections on March 18.
He said the APGA carries “Igbo identity” and was “fully acceptable” to the people of the state.
“APGA will overwhelmingly win gubernatorial elections because our people believe in us,” he said.
He described APGA gubernatorial candidate Greg Ibe as the candidate to beat.
According to him, Mr. Ibe, a professor, is the largest private employer of labor, with a huge investment in state education.
READ ALSO: Labor Party could end up like APGA - a failed experiment, By Fredrick Nwabufo"Others invest in other cities because they say there is no meaningful return...
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