The blue print of Anambra state as a flagship subnational platform and livable homeland is a civil society development architecture designed by Soludo’s administration to encompass reforms of environmental, institutions, ministries, departments and agencies. Sequentially, action has spoken louder than words in the execution of rudimentary and fundamental reforms from public service to the Judiciary, from education to youth start-ups, from industry, trade and investment to road transportation and from security to social interventions.
The truth is that for more than sixteen years Civil Service reform for equity, fairness and justice is long overdue. But today, this is only but a transformational phase of Anambra state. Significantly, the modus operandi for appointing the new permanent secretaries in Anambra state as sent the right signals to federal and state governments on good governance and nation building. For the sake of equity, fairness and justice, at both state and federal level, the appointments were predicated on merit, inclusivity, gender sensitivity and national outlook.
Retrospectively, after many years of waiting for Civil Service reform, Permanent Secretaries were chosen through rigorous examinations and interviews. Yet, the much awaited diversity and inclusion returned to the Service with the appointment of eighteen permanent secretaries including representation from other states, and gender diversity with appointment of eight women.
An obligation and duty to the state and humanity on the part of the appointees, dictated by the reform, will in the short, medium and long terms result to allegiance to the state, conscientious duty to combat corruption, and upholding justice. For one thing, good governance and sustainability are predicated on appointments that were based on merit and impressive track records as the appointees were selected from pool of successful candidates at the end of a Screening Exercise.
The appointments of Mr. Adebayo Ojeyinka from Osun State and Mr. Joachin Achor from Abia State as permanent secretaries in Anambra were not mere symbolic gestures of merit and hard-work but were also a display of strong political will to commitment to Nigerian nation building through actions against entrenched stereotypes of tribalism, sectionalism and ethnicism. Before the appointment of these gentlemen and ladies, Governor Soludo had in his government non-indigenes like Chief Press Secretary from Edo, the SSA on News Media from Imo State, his cook from Benue State, among others.
The newly appointed permanent secretaries under the reform credo have the obligations and duties not only to flag off an integrated and seamless civil service reforms but also work collaboratively with Commissioners and other levels of governments to pilot the ship of public service with fairness, equity and justice and for public good.
In addition, these appointees have the responsibility to support and execute the general policies and priorities of the government and to operate within the context of global best practices and the management practices and procedures formulated for the ideal Anambra state as a mega city and a livable homeland within the parameters of Soludo solution. In the ongoing reforms assessment of every ministry will depend on a number of incontrovertible indicators for judging whether the administration has lived up to its billing, guided by the fundamental objectives and directive principles underlying the transformation of Anambra state to a livable homeland.
Soludo’s service reform is a deliberate action to domesticate number 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals on peace, justice and strong institutions. Hence, the sustainable development goals in Anambra state today is to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, professionalism, representativity and democratic character of a civil service, with a view to promoting better delivery of public goods and services with increased accountability.
With this, the Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has pushed beyond the notch and thresholds of previous administrations. Thus, he is restructuring Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for optimal effectiveness and reducing cost of governance by over 80 per cent. He has implemented a 10 per cent salary increase for Civil servants and provided non-taxable cash awards of N12,000 to public servants and pensioners to mitigate the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies and ensured efficient disbursement of pensions and gratuities for retired staff.
On the local government infrastructures, the five local government secretariats in Aguata, Nnewi South, Idemili North, Idemili South and Ihiala damaged by “Unknown Gunmen” have been reconstructed, while renovation of Ekwusigo, Dunukofia Secretariats and the long abandoned Anambra West Secretariat have been completed.
The reform has fostered an environment where hard work and dedication are rewarded; where new generation of public servants strive for excellence; where resolute dedication to inclusivity, governance, transparency, and accountability has set a new standard for leadership in Nigeria; where progress, diversity and the unique perspectives and experiences of Anambrarians from all walks of life are leveraged upon.
And from modern Nigeria perspective, it is an cultivation of unity in diversity and willingness to embrace one another as equals, regardless of differences for a more equitable and just Nigerian society unrestrained by the shackles of prejudice and discrimination.
Professor Dukor is of the Department of Philosophy, UNIZIK.
