*Expresses worry over last-minute looting of Abia govt property
A pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development(FENRAD), has called on the outgoing governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, to stop frustrating the transition programme ahead of the May 29, 2023 handover.
The group made the call in a statement issued by its executive director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor.
While calling on the outgoing administration to create a level playing ground for the incoming government, FENRAD frowned at the various stumbling blocks laced ahead of the May 29 handover by the Ikpeazu-led government to frustrate the transition programme of the incoming governor, Alex Otti.
The group expressed sadness that in times like this, rather than being reflective, taking stock on the mandate it has held in the past eight years, including completing specific projects begun under its watch, the outgoing PDP government was busy planning local government elections among others less than two weeks to leave office.
The group listed some of the stumbling blocks the outgoing Ikpeazu government had allowed to fester to include non-payment of workers’ salaries, looting of government assets, strike actions by various workers unions among others.
“In the judiciary, FENRAD is aware of an ongoing strike embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Abia State Chapter insisting on the confirmation of Justice Lilian Abai as substantive Chief Judge of the state which have been confirmed recently) and financial Autonomy for judiciary workers.
“This strike, FENRAD observed, had ground all court processes in the state such that Abia Governorship Election Tribunal is now sitting in Abuja!
“While the JUSUN strike has affected all court proceedings, not even the legislative arm of government is spared”, the statement reads in part.
It added: “A week or so ago, there was the news of impeachment and counter-impeachment in what seemed like a speakership tussle in the Seventh Assembly and the emergence of two speakers holding sessions differently with resolution, this impasse tends to move the state to anarchy.
“The executive on the other hand has to deal with account freezing instigated by some faceless individual or group which, to an extent, must have restricted access to finance and some other financial dealings.
“Worst is, there is ongoing issue of salary arrears being owed workers, while the governor and his predecessor engage in needless exchanges over this salary issue.
“The whole situation is worsened by a statewide strike begun by labour unions in the state which is not letting up, in spite of government’s attempts to curb this. A source claimed that the Ikpeazu-led government is owing staggering arrears of 30 months upwards, even after receiving several bailout and other intervention funds from the center!
“This, if true, is unacceptable because the civil service is co-implementer of executive policies, whose ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) also help in the area of agenda setting and administrative support.
“FENRAD regrets the ongoing impasse in the three arms of government because there has to be a sitting Chief Judge that will swear in the governor who will later on inaugurate the Eighth (House of) Assembly for Ndị Abia. This whole thing could be a serious impediment to a smooth transition come May 29.
“FENRAD calls on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD to, as a matter of urgency, look into the allegation of salary arrears and find a way around them. Every worker deserves pay, in line with the global initiative of “dignity of labour.”
“May 29 is two weeks away, and the team of the Governor-elect Dr. Alex Otti still cries out that the outgoing government has not availed it with any handover notes or briefs that will allow Governor-elect Dr. Alex Otti to hit the ground running when finally he assumes office.
“More horrible is the news about a would-be local government election to be conducted by the state electoral commission, ABSIEC. This is not being done in the interest of Ndị Abia.
“While FENRAD supports grassroots government and has remained steadfastly committed to the autonomy of all tiers of government, which guarantees fiscal federalism, the Foundation wonders why the state government did not allow the election to hold before this time.
“In less than one year, especially during the general elections, appointments had been made at the seventeen (17) LGAs in the state. FENRAD understands there is a court injunction restricting the said election. The Foundation calls on all parties to maintain status quo ante and not to resort to court disobedience in any way or manner”.
While FENRAD urged that all stumbling blocks be removed, the Foundation expressed worries over the allegation of looting of public properties in public institutions days to go of the current administration.
“Allegations keep coming from all quarters, even the grapevine, that in state-owned institutions like: School of Health Technology, Aba; Abia Nursing School, Amachara; Abia State Government House and elsewhere, equipment and facilities, including vehicles, bought with taxpayers’ money are allegedly being moved by workers and some other unnamed persons.
“This is a sad development that must not be allowed to stand. Any individual or group that loots assets acquired with state fund must be made to face the law; no two ways about that.
“FENRAD urges the out going Abia state governor to look into all the concerns being raised by both political opposition and others and, see what can be done in ameliorating the situation where such concerns are proven as history, the immortal judge of all mankind, beckons.
“Concerning May 29, FENRAD says there must be a level playing ground for the incoming government, and the outgoing must ensure this”.
