Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Civil servants in Anambra State have been urged to explore side hustles, to supplement their income and mitigate the impact of economic hardship on their households.
This call was made in Awka, Wednesday, during a health and economic awareness workshop organised by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as part of the activities to commemorate 2025 workers’ Day celebration in the state.
In his opening remarks, Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff to the state governor, Hon. Chinedu Nwoye, encouraged workers to diversify their income streams beyond their monthly salaries.
Nwoye emphasized the need for workers to explore alternative sources of income, citing a lack of innovative ideas and foresight as major obstacles hindering civil servants from exploring other opportunities.
Nwoye made a passionate appeal to the workers to seek out rewarding side hustles to supplement their income, stressing that this would be essential for survival in the current economic climate.
The Managing Director of Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA), Sir Clem Chukwuka, provided workers with a guide on how to get loans through the newly introduced Civil Service Solution, Soft Loan Empowerment Program to support their monthly earnings.
Mr. Chukwuka, who described the scheme as a life saving opportunity for civil servants, said that the loan comes with cheaper interest rate as against the 25-40% interest rate loans which workers access from other financial companies.
The ASBA boss encouraged workers to access funds to help them in developing farms and other micro businesses which could augment their income and Help them secure a happy retirement.
He explained that since the loan was on indemnity, clearance must be gotten from the office of the Head Departments of all the individual members forming co-operative societies, and the debt profiles of such individuals must be analyzed before funds are released to the cooperative society for onward distribution amongst themselves.
Mr. Chukwuka also reminded the workers that the loan would not be for frivolity rather for investment and only workers who have attained level of gratuity would be eligible for the empowerment loan.
He however praised the governor for remaining steadfast to his promises of alleviating poverty from the state.
On his own, the State Commissioner for Health and Healthy Living With Nonye Soludo (HLWNS) Coordinator, Afam Obidike, highlighted the success of the Nonye Soludo Healthy Living, and advocated for the public to prioritize healthy eating habits.
He also emphasized the importance of regular exercise, good hygiene practices, and mental health care for overall well-being and productivity.
Earlier in his opening remark, Anambra NLC chairman, Sir Humphrey Nwafor, said the event was part of the activities mapped out for this year’s workers’ Day, noting that the incorporation of the workshop was aimed at improving the welfare of civil servants in the state.
“Prior to my tenure, events of this nature were lacking. We decided to change the narrative by introducing aspects of learning to improve ourselves. I deemed it necessary to prioritize the welfare of workers, focusing not just on increasing state revenue but also on improving their health and well-being.”
He also commended the governor for being a solution-oriented leader who addresses the needs of the people.
Ikengaonline reports that the highpoints of the workshop were the medical checkups for workers who participated in the workshop and awards to Mrs Nonye Soludo wife of the state governor, and Sir Clem Chukwuka, for being supportive of Labour in the state.
