Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
It was a historic moment in Abia state on Monday following the swearing -of an Edo state-born Mr. Benson Ojeikere, a non-indigene of Abia state, as the new Head of Service of Abia state before the commencement of this week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday evening at the Government House Umuahia while briefing the press on the outcome of the first State Executive Council meeting of 2025 chaired by Governor Alex Otti, describing the appointment of Mr. Ojeikere as unprecedented.
“This is a landmark appointment given the fact that he is not from Abia state but because His Excellency believes in meritocracy and that there is no dividing line between an Abia citizen or a resident. Once you are living in Abia, you are part and parcel of Abia state.
“It’s an unprecedented move consistent with the Governor ‘s disposition towards meritocracy and policy of indigeneship, he has sworn in Mr. Benson Ojeikere of Edo state origin as the new Head of Service in Abia state.,”
Prince Okey Kanu revealed that
Mr. Ojeikere emerged as the best Copper in Abia state in the 1999/2000 batch of the NYSC service year and was retained by the then state government, stating that he has gone ahead to justify the confidence reposed in him and he has risen through the ranks to be a Director, a Permanent Secretary and now the Head of Service.
The commissioner stated that the appointment underscores the Governor’s belief in the principle that all residents of Abia, regardless of origin, are equal stakeholders in the state’s progress, and expressed the hope that Mr. Ojeikere would bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.
In another development, the Abia State government has commenced the Out-of-School Policy it had earlier announced last year.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu made this public and said that the state government has officially launched the “Out-of-School Policy” with the reopening of schools on Monday, 13th January 2025.
He said that a special task force has been established to enforce compliance with the initiative, aimed at eradicating the out-of-school children in the State.
“The out-of-school policy of the state government has commenced officially with the reopening of schools today (Monday). A special task force to enforce compliance has been put in place by the State government.
“This policy is very dear to the heart of His Excellency, and he intends zero tolerance with out-of-school children in the State.
“So in the days ahead, this special task force will ensure the compliance of this policy that is directed to ensure that the indigenes of the state who are indigent for some reasons or the other are not left behind in regards to education which of course we know is the best way to empower people.
Meanwhile, EXCO made it clear that the state government has released over Three hundred and ten million Naira (N310,000,000) to Abia state judiciary for the payment of its staff salary, as confirmed by the Governor and wondered why the management of the judiciary, an independent arm of government is withholding the payment of their staff salaries.
EXCO stated that the strike action embarked on by the Abia State Judiciary Union is uncalled for, stating that the Executive arm of government is ever ready to sit at a round table to resolve whatever problem as regards the payment of their staff salaries.
