Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has unfolded plans to weed out ghost workers from the state’s public service by introducing biometric measures.
He solicited the understanding of labour unions to sanitise the state and local government services.
Orji said there are many ghost workers in the local governments drawing salaries without working every month. They are being shielded by certain vested interests, he said.
The governor assured the people of maximum security during the Christmas and new year festivities, urging indigenes of the state to return home for the celebrations.
He told a gathering of Abians in Lagos that his administration would combat kidnapping and other forms of violence during the period, announcing that additional 42 patrol vehicles would be distributed to security agencies to tackle crime during the Yuletide.
The governor also said that, in many towns and villages, there would be no power outage because the Independent Power Project (IPP) has filled the gap.
Orji was guest of the Abia Think Tank, a group of intellectuals, technocrats, politicians and businessmen in Lagos, which held an annual lecture delivered by the former university don and media guru, Dr Chidi Amuta. The lecture was entitled; “State of the state: Abia on my mind”.
Amuta decried the high cost of governance across the three tiers, advising those at the helm of affairs to cut the political bureaucracy at the state and federal levels.
He said: “The number of ministries and parastatals must be cut down to reduce redundancy. Job for the boys to compensate political followers must end”.
Governor Orji who tendered his stewardship said security, infrastructural development, social services and housing would remain the priorities of his administration.
He charged the elite in the state to participate in politics and governance, assuring that the state has been liberated from political, economic and social bondage of the past.
The governor enjoined indigenes wishing to celebrate Christmas at home never to hesitate to do so, adding that government would guarantee security of life and property during and after the period.
He regretted that the image of the state had been dented by kidnapping, stressing that the bad media report has continued, despite the improved security in the state.
Orji unfolded plans to build a new secretariat, Government House, more health centres, and houses for the poor. He said, following down-sizing, N20,100 is being paid monthly as the minimum wage for workers.
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Abia tackles insecurity, ghost workers