Governor Nwifuru Has Raised The Bars Of Accountability And Fiscal Discipline.
(Being the text of my address as the representative of His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru at the Anti-corruption seminar organized by ICPC in collaboration with FIRS for management staff of Ebonyi State Local Government System)
Protocol.
It is a great honour for me to stand before your esteemed presence in the big shoes of the governor of Ebonyi State and my dear principal, His Excellency, Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, GGCEHF, FNIoB, in the take off ceremonies of this great seminar.
This seminar which theme centres on Accountability and Fiscal Discipline for management staff of Ebonyi State Local Government System is important to the People's Charter of Needs administration of His Excellency, Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in Ebonyi State. Historically, the virtues of probity or accountability and intolerance for corruption are traditional legacies of Ebonyians. So far, Ebonyi State is one of the states without records of financial scandals. Hence, Ebonyi citizens are known as "A people of honour and integrity". Ebonyi State as a corporate entity has recorded immense benefits from these traditional virtues. This is why dispassionate peer review reports have always credited Ebonyi State with more indices of development than many high revenue earning states in the federation.
The present administration of His Excellency, Builder Francis Nwifuru, has raised the bars of accountability, frugality and fiscal discipline from mere administrative procedures to state policies. The benefits of these policy directions in our dear Ebonyi State have equally increased resulting in legacy projects like the rigid pavement roads and modern bridges in communities, council areas, senatorial districts and in Abakaliki capital city; the revival of overseas and local postgraduate scholarship programmes for Ebonyi youths and the 39 model schools; the stimulation of the economic sector with premium financial empowerments and tax waivers as well as the many welfare and other human capital development programmes of the Builder Francis Nwifuru-led People's Charter of Needs administration. Need I mention the transformation of the health sector in Ebonyi State or the ongoing water revolution? What of the sustained status of Ebonyi State as the most secure state in the Nigerian federation?
This week, Ebonyi State Government under Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru broke another record: I had the privilege of representing the performing Ebonyi State governor in the flag-off of the payment of the arrears of gratuities which have piled up for 29 years to local government retirees! This is happening when payment of gratuities has become history in other states. Through that courageous step, Governor Nwifuru's administration has ended the previous rush of retirees to their graves. Ebonyi retirees are no longer in a hurry to go to heaven.
Our experience in Ebonyi State has shown that accountability and fiscal discipline are compulsory steps towards the achievement of good governance. Ebonyi State under Governor Francis Nwifuru is proof that with accountability and fiscal discipline, a low-revenue state can simultaneously develop on all fronts and still ensure the welfare of the people.
This seminar is important to Ebonyi State Government. It is the wish of Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru that, through this seminar, the Ebonyi culture of accountability and fiscal discipline shall be further reinvigorated at the grassroots. Our governor is convinced that this will make the financial autonomy enjoyed by local government areas in Ebonyi State meaningful to the people.
I thank you for giving me audience even as I wish you happy interactions.