30th May, 2011
Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime of Enugu state has pledged to run a responsible and accountable administration that would deliver services to the people of the state with top priorities in the health and education sectors.
He made this declaration after his inauguration on May 29 by the Chief Judge of Enugu state Justice Innocent Umezuruike for a second term in office at Okpara Square venue Enugu. ‘’I promised to make a clean break from the past’’, he said.
Continuing, ‘’we cannot secure the future of our state if we do not equip our children to compete in the knowledge economy by providing them with the best education that our resources can afford’’.
Against this backdrop, the new administration will review the state’s investment in education with the aim of entrenching an effective mechanism that will guarantee maximum benefits in the next four years.
He noted that Enugu state is fast transforming from ‘a civil service state’ to a new state of modern commerce and industry targeted at making the state an investment haven.
Concrete steps should also be taken soonest to revive or privatize all moribund government owned enterprises in the state and called on investors to utilize the business friendly environment in the state to optimize their potentials.
The governor further extended a hand of fellowship to health workers in the state who have been on indefinite strike since November last year to join him and make a commitment in reviving the collapsed health care delivery system. ‘’I hope that our brothers and sisters in the health sector would reciprocate this gesture of goodwill as I am committed to take all necessary action, and promptly too, to save the public healthcare system in the state from collapse’’.
To consolidate the success built in his first term, the governor pledged to continue to be prudent in the management and deployment of state resources. He attributed his achievements so far to prudent resource management.
The new brand governor enjoined those who desire to work with him in the current dispensation to make prudence, transparency and accountability their watchwords. ‘’It can no longer be business as usual’’, he added.
On the welfare of civil servants, he promised to approve the implementation of the N18, 000 minimum wage structures as soon as the details are worked out while making adequate provision for the training and re-training of public servants to institute a public system that works.
Finally, Governor Chime called on all and sundry in the state irrespective of political persuasion to join hands with him to build a safe, educated, healthy and prosperous state where everyday basic comfort of life is taken for granted.
By Jude Orji\Enugu