We’ll raise 60,000 millionaire youths, women in two years — Umahi

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has revealed his administration’s target to raise  60,000 youths and women millionaires in the next two years.
Umahi made the revelation on Wednesday at the Government House, Abakaliki while swearing-in eight newly appointed Senior Special Assistants, 10 Special Assistants and three Principal Government Officials.
Umahi at the event emphasized that Commissioners would come last in his second term appointments, adding that the decision was to make them realize that no one is indispensable in his government.
He frowned at the behaviour of some of his past commissioners who kept complaining that they were not properly taken care of by the Governor rather than finding avenues to make impact in the administration.
He described such people as the lazy ones who would definitely not make the reappointment list.
Umahi challenged the new appointees to brace up to the challenge of the present economic realities in the State by being productive rather than constantly waiting for government subventions and overheads to run their affairs, warning that anyone found complaining would immediately be laid off.
While taking the SSAs and SAs through their lines of duties and responsibilities, the Governor tasked the SA on Youth Mobilization, Mark Onu, to initiate rewarding programmes for the youths to facilitate the set target.
He Charged the SA on Interparty and Labour Relations, Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, to collaborate with the Head of Service to address workers grievances at all levels and carry out census of workers in the State for proper policy formulation and implementation, while the reappointed SSA on Infrastructure Maintenance, Chief Ali Odefa, was challenged to ensure that all potholes along the road in the State were constantly eliminated.
Governor Umahi, who further re-emphasised his passion for the airport and the new Olympic-Standard Stadium projects in the State, charged the concerned appointees to work relentlessly towards ensuring their realization or be removed.
He noted that a new Ministry of Special Projects would be created with a Commissioner to coordinate all activities geared towards those and other projects of such magnitude across the State.
The Governor stressed that the focus of his next appointment would be to scout for experienced and competent hands in Education and Agriculture who would drive the sector to meet his desired goals.
He added that the State has earmarked 142 Universal Basic Education Board projects to embark on but warned that he would no longer give any mobilization fund to contractors as payment would be on basis of job progression.
In an acceptance speech, the reappointed Head of Service, Chamberlain Nwele, on behalf of other appointees expressed their readiness to serve with commitment, loyalty and diligence.
Among those sworn in as SSAs were six former House of Assembly members who did not make it back to the State legislative chambers.
Recall that Governor Umahi had earlier promised to carry them along in his second term administration.
Nine out of the 22 appointees sworn-in, namely the Head of Service, the Deputy Principal Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Obasi, two SSAs and five SAs, were retained.
The rest are new entrants.