Make states viable, not pay cut, Ebonyi govt tells colleagues

KUNLE IDOWU, Abeokuta

The Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, has described the 50 percent pay cut by some state governors as highly insignificant and not enough to stimulate the desired development in their respective states.

He said this yesterday while fielding questions from journalists after he paid courtesy call on former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

According to him, mere cutting of take-home by some state governors by half could not be described as significant.

Umahi noted that governors should evolve sustainable programmes that will make their states more viable and productive.

“To me, this 50 percent pay cut by some of the governors is not the way out of our present situation in the country. For instance, I earn N600,000 per month and if that is halved, I will take home N300,000 in a month. That is not the kind of money that will turn around the fortune of my people in Ebonyi State.

“I strongly feel we should go beyond that level; we should endeavour to re-invent our respective states to make them viable and more productive.”

Umahi, who said he never believed in the ritual of 100 days in office celebration, pointed out that he hit the ground running immediately he assumed office to ensure Ebonyi State “is re-positioned for investment capable of increasing the wealth of the state.”

While he noted that the global fall in oil prices was good for Nigeria, he added that the shortfall in oil revenue would wake up governors to the reality on the ground and spur them to look inwards to harness other resources in their states to generate revenue.

Umahi said he had taken steps to boost the state’s internally generated revenue in order to fulfill his campaign promises.

“Since revenue being generated from oil has dwindled which has led to serious reduction in federal allocation, our administration has taken steps to look for alternative means of generating money.

“First, we upgraded our civil service because that is key to the actualisation of our policies. Then, we are working seriously to bring in many investors into our state to partner with us especially on rice production.

“I sincerely find it ridiculous that as of now, we still import food and something as minute as toothpicks from overseas.

“With huge investment and infrastructure, Ebonyi has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed Nigerians and even for export. This is because of our vast land for rice cultivation and people who have a lot of potential.

“In Ebonyi, we have like five rice mills but there is paucity of fund to make the facilities world-class. And on this, we have approached the Federal Government for assistance.

“Apart from that, we will tap the mineral resources like copper, bauxite, clay and other God-given resources, and make the state one of the best in the country.”

When asked about the relationship between him and his immediate predecessor, Senator Martin Elechi, Umahi said, “Like former President Obasanjo told me, I will definitely continue the good projects embarked upon by the former governor and adjust where necessary, all in the name of making our people reap the benefits of good governance.”

The former president said he believed Umahi would perform well as a governor, having been not only “in the corridor of power but in the sitting room of power.”

He advised the governor to explore the agricultural potential of the state in the area of rice production.