Abah Joshua
The federal lawmaker representing Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Joseph Nwobasi, has commended Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State for empowering Ebonyi people and embarking on rapid road infrastructural development.
The lawmaker, who made the commendation during an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, further expressed joy over the payment of backlog of gratituty to workers who have retired in the state.
He further disclosed that he is motivated to empower his constituents, because they voted for him as their representative in the green chambers, even as he stated that he has the highest paid number of appiontees as aides among federal lawmakers from Ebonyi State.
Nwobasi, who was elected under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), explained that his constituents during the election were there for him and came out in their mass to vote for him to represent them in national assembly .
He said, “My stay in the national assembly for over one year now, we are new there, we are first timers, I have been able to move two motions and sponsor one bill for now. Coming to social amenities, I have attracted solar street lights.
” If you go to Oshiegbe at the market square, Amuzu village, Ezeukwu village, Azuinyaba village, Isiphomini village, have been all electrified through solar street lights. And in Ezzagu, three villages have also been covered with the solar street lights.
“I have been able also to attract hospital equipment for Oshiegbe health center which I have the plan to brief my constituents between now and December, that event will come up and I will use that opportunity to commission the hospital equipment. I have also attracted the building of six classrooms. The building of the classrooms is ongoing; it is at the roofing level.
“In terms of scholarship, I have also given two persons scholarship into tertiary institutions. I think among all of us at the national assembly, I have the largest number of appiontees. For instance, I have about forty Special Assistants who I pay every month. I did this to help those ones who were there for me during the campaigns and election. So that as I am enjoying, let them also enjoy with me. I can provide you with their names and portfolios.
“Their payment is graded form #150,000, #100,000, #50,000, #40,000 to #30, 000. This is done every month and we have a lot. These are the ones I have been able to do. Then, last Christmas, I procured and distributed three trailers of rice as pallitaives to my constituents. Then, in terms of fertlizers, last three months ago, I also distributed 1,500 bags of fertlizers.
“I have in mind if I can also roll out empowerment programmes which will come together with the brief I will hold with my constituents. We still have other programmes that will unfold as time goes on.
“I am motivated to do all these things because we are in a democracy. And democracy they say is government of the people, by the people and for the people. For me, who am I? But my people during the election were there for me.
“They came out in their mass to vote for me and today I am in the national assembly to represent them. So, I have been motivated to ensure that I attract social amenities and also to make good policies that will better their lives as citizens of this country. These are the factors that motivated me to do all these things and much are still coming.
“What the Governor has done that I so much cherished is the payment of accumulated gratituty and pension because it has been long for years to retired civil servants. Because as soon as he came in, he gave the approval for the payment and today, he has cleared the backlog.
“Honestly, when I remembered this, I am always happy. You know what our people, especially our aged mothers and fathers that have contributed to in serving our state were going through. You see when we are supposed to take care of them, you begin to talk of their pensions and gratuities.
“It was not something to write home about. But as soon as the present governor came in, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru came in, he approved the payment. Another one is in the area of human empowerment, he is also doing well. He is empowering our people.
“That there is huger in Nigeria, it is not so in Ebonyi State because of what the Governor is doing. He is busy empowering people through different programmes.
“Like he mentioned during the independence day, #180,000, #500,000, #1, 000,000 etc. He has different programmes to empower Ebonyi people. This is excluding the road infrastructures which he mentioned but completed ones and ongoing ones. I am using this opportunity to thank him, he is a builder”, he reiterated.
