Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has re-stated its resolve to begin the payment of the N70,000 national minimum wage to workers from October.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who stated this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, said the resolution was in line with the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of Abia workers.
He said: “The State Government will commence the payment of the new minimum wage this month of October.
“The Governor, Dr Alex Otti, is committed to paying that minimum wage because of his disposition towards the welfare of our workers. There is now hope that within the next couple of days everything being equal, payment of minimum wage will commence,” Kanu stated.
He further disclosed that the State Government had approved nine new road projects for both construction and reconstruction across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The roads according to the Commissioner are: reconstruction of the 5.5 km Onuimo – Abia Tower Road; construction of the 7.15 km Onuinyang-(Bende) Okporoenyi -Oboro – Ikwuano road section one; and the Onuinyang 6.8km kilometres Okporoenyi-Oboro-Ikwuano (Ikwuano) section two.
Others are the 11.5 Ntigha-Nbawsi-Umuala road (Isiala Ngwa North); the 11.1 km Obehe-Umudiabia-Owaza road (Ukwa West); the 11.27 km Mbala-Umuaku-Ngodo road in Umunneochi; 2.21 km Umuogo-Nsukwe-Ubakala Ring road Umuahia South; the 12.6 km Ohanze-Ntighauzo-Obete-Akirika Oburu Obingwa and Ukwa East; and the 6.9
Umuopara Ring road, Umuahia South.
He added that two more road projects have been completed in line with the zero pothole initiative of the state government bringing the total number of roads maintained so far to 127.
He further disclosed that the state government had started the dualisation of the Owerrinta-Umuika road.
The Commissioner further said that the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor would on Wednesday, 23rd October 2024, at the Abia Children’s Specialist Hospital, Bende road, Umuahia, hold a sickle cell awareness workshop for members of the public.
He said that the whole idea is to create awareness about that health condition.
Kanu also said that in recognition of the giant strides made so far by ASEPA in keeping the three major Abia cities of Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia clean, UN habitat has invited ASEPA and the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) to a conference holding in Egypt to tell the Abia success story about waste disposal and management.
“To give further vent to the appreciable achievements recorded by ASEPA , UN-Habitat has invited Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) and ASEPA to a conference in Egypt . They want them to come and tell the Abia story of success in waste disposal in Aba and Umuahia.
“Government is happy that people outside the country are appreciative of what the Governor Alex Otti is doing in the state.” Prince Kanu maintained.
He noted that in line with the state of emergency declared on refuse disposal by Governor Alex Otti on assumption of Office, ASEPA has been doing a great job of keeping Aba, Umuahia and Ohafia clean .
“The Lokpanta Cattle Market and abbatior are currently under the focus of ASEPA as their state of general cleanliness has improved. Uzuakoli and Arochukwu cattle markets are currently being cleaned up by ASEPA under its”Clean Up Abia Initiative” programme.”
Contributing, the General Manager, ASEPA, Mazi Ogbonnia Okereke, said the state government has performed well in waste management and general cleanliness in Abia State in the last 17 months of the administration.
“Aba has been identified today as a model of the movement from a dirty to a clean city. We have been asked to come and tell our story first hand at a United Nations’ forum. You can imagine the kind of perception and reputational capital that will accrue to Abia State” from our participation in this conference.
