Umahi bans aides, workers from functions on Fridays

From Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki

GOVERNOR Dave Umahi of Eboni State has banned all government functionaries and civil servants in the state from attending social events fixed for Fridays. The governor said Fridays are working days.

Commissioner for Infor­mation and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, disclosed this to newsmen af­ter the state executive council meeting yesterday.

He said: “Anybody who wishes to hold weddings, fu­neral, and any other kind of event should fix that on week­ends because government functionaries and civil ser­vants have been banned from attending such functions.”

Senator Onwe also said the state government had bud­geted N3 billion for the reha­bilitation of natives of the state who are hawking in major cit­ies across the country.

He announced the immedi­ate redeployment of his Spe­cial Adviser on Lagos Liaison office, Mrs. Jacinta Nworie, to the department of Talent Development which would be created under the office of the Secretary to the State Govern­ment.

The state spokesman said the first assignment of Mrs. Nworie would be to conduct census of Ebonyians who are hawking in major cities like Lagos, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Aba and elsewhere, across the country.

“Once that comprehensive census is taken, it is the resolu­tion of the Executive Council to make a budget of N3billion to begin the rehabilitation of all indigenes of the state who engage in disgraceful and hu­miliating activities of hawking on the highways,” he added.

Onwe also noted that talent hunting would be made a mat­ter of priority by the Depart­ment of Talent Development in the state, adding, “people could be deployed to the area of agriculture rather than hawking on the highways.”

He disclosed that the state government had terminated the N29 million contract for the provision of electricity in the second annex of the Feder­al Teaching Hospital Abakali­ki, (FETHA 2) for non speedy completion and failure of the contractor to honour the terms of the contract. Onwe said the Commissioner for Power has been given one week to take over the contract, complete and present it for commission­ing by Governor Umahi.