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The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, yesterday, stated that the legacy which his administration is poised to leave behind in May 2023 is the empowerment of the Ebonyi people rather than their employment into civil service.
He went further to describe the civil service engagement in the country as one that is neither encouraging nor profitable, especially at this time the country is facing grave economic difficulties.
Umahi disclosed this on Tuesday during the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) document between the State Government and some multi-billionaire companies who showed interest in running their business at the International Mall.
Hanoky Media has gathered that the mall, which is still under construction, is at the verge of being completed and may likely be commissioned in the coming months.
The mall, which is located at the heart of the state capital, Abakiliki, is one of the multi-billion naira projects that has been initiated and constructed by the State Governor, Dave Umahi.
The Governor, who has repeatedly advertised his distaste to the philosophy of public funds sharing, stated that his agenda is to govern the state with economic policies capable of stimulating economic growth in the state.
His words, “But what would we say that our legacy will be? It shall not only be the mall, the international market, but the peace and empowerment of the men and women who we plan to lift out from poverty.”
“Somebody asked me why I am not employing people. My answer to that person was that I hate to punish people. If I employ you into the civil service and your average take-home for the month is 60,000, in 12 months you shall have 1.2 million naira, and in 10 years, you shall have 7.2 million naira.”
“But if I encourage you through our human capital development programme where you have just 2 hectares of land, I tell you, within 2 years, you will make more than 7.2 million naira.”
“So, my philosophy of employment is slightly different from that of the public that believes in sharing money. I don’t share money. I’m from the private sector.”
“Again, somebody asked me the other day why I’m ruling the state like a private sector. My answer to him was yes! Because every decision reached in a state should be economically based.
“What will make me score a zero is the inability to carelessly share money. I share money very wisely.”
“24 Chinese people have taken shops at this mall. Ebonyi wake up!”, the Governor pleaded.
Those in attendance at the event were the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Nnia Nwodo, the Oba of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemake Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe and Sen. Murray Bruce, CEO, Silverbird Group of Companies.
