Opinion: Good Governance, A Catalyst for the Development of Abia

Posted by Factnews | 7 years ago | 2,099 times



By Kingsley Maduforo

Good governance is the striving for rule of law, transparency, equity and accountability in the exercise of political, economic and administrative power and the sure-way to measure its presence is through transparency and accountability. While transparency refers to the quality of acting openly in any affair in accordance with rules and regulations so that the truth will always be visible, accountability ensures that institutions, governmental and non-governmental, civil society organizations and individuals are responsible for their actions and decisions and are ready and willing to explain them whenever the need arises especially to the masses who are often affected by those decisions and actions. Good governance is considered to determine the pace of economic development as much as it plays prominent roles in making developmental initiatives very effective.

The Governor of Abia State Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is one of the governors in this political era who have meaningfully impacted the lives of their people through the delivery of good governance. Frankly speaking, under his watch, Abia State has received a different kind of 'glorification' from people and institutions in and outside Nigeria. The truth is that Gov. Ikpeazu understands that good governance is very vital for the socio-economic development of any state because for there to be adequate economic growth and infrastructural development in any state, transparency and accountability must be the bedrock of the government of such a state.

And since assuming office, he has been working tirelessly in order to develop the State by eradicating poverty, promoting sustainable growth and infrastructural development, accelerating the empowerment of women and youths, and integrating the Abia State economy into the global economy. The objectives of his administration are solidly based on the underlying principle of commitment to good governance, and the maintenance of the standard of this principle is fundamental to the creation of an environment conducive to investment and long-term infrastructural development of the State of Abia. It is mention-worthy that before the inception of the present administration, Abia State had had a checkered past when it comes to good governance and it was this that prompted Gov. Ikpeazu to change the political climate of the State and also to change the mindset of the masses towards those in government through the initiation of transparency and accountability in the affairs of the State.

Gov. Ikpeazu's administration has been so transparent in handling the affairs of government. It is no longer news that Abia State received #5.71b Paris Club loan refund, and it is not a rumor that Gov. Ikpeazu is keeping with his desire to ensure early end to the outstanding salary challenge in the State. He directed the Committee in charge to use all the money to settle, as much as possible, the outstanding salary of the 24,000 state and 14,000 LGA workers, and pensioners in the State. And the money was not enough so the Governor authorised the use of additional fund from the State's allocation so that every Abia worker and pensioner will be up to date in terms of salary and pension payment. Payment warrants have been released by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Obinna Oriaku and Abia workers and pensioners are now smiling to the bank.

In the area of infrastructure, Gov. Ikpeazu has recorded many milestones with his infrastructural revolution in the State. From the construction and reconstruction of roads and bridges across the three senatorial districts of the State to the building and rehabilitation of classrooms and laboratories in our schools; from the facelift in our hospitals to the empowerment of our women and youths, and to the making of favourable economic policies that have helped in promoting made-in-aba goods and services, etc., the lore of his achievements is not a fairy tale.

It is proper to state, as a means of concluding this piece, that poor infrastructure which impedes economic growth and international competitiveness also represents a major cause of reduction in the quality of life, illness and death. Gov. Ikpeazu's quest towards tackling it is indeed a good step in the right direction and with God by his sides, he will definitely succeed.

Kingsley Maduforo, a Media Analyst writes from Umuahia.

 


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