Get Guardian on GoogleThe Ebonyi State chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises NASME on Thursday endorsed Governor Francis Nwifuru for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 governorship election saying that his developmental initiative worth voting for second term.
Speaking in their different rallies in Abakaliki the National President of the NUP Comrade Godwin Abumisi, commended the Governor for clearing pensions and gratuity of retired workers in the state from 1996 till date while the State Chairman of NASME, Mr Joseph Erishi described Francis Nwifuru as great achiver.
Comrade Godwin Abumisi represented by his Deputy, Abdulahi Onuh said during an award presentation to him as the best pensioner friendly Governor that for clearing pensions and gratuity of pensioners from 1996 till date is not a small number of years noting that the Governor has written his name in gold.
“While in Kano, I thought that the Governor of Kano State is number one. I never knew that coming to Ebonyi State, the Kano Governor will be number two.
“To clear a backlog of pensions and gratuity from 1996 till date is a very big achievement. May God elongate the life of Ebonyi Governor. The Governor has done a lot.
“The head of service has gone further to tell us that the state health insurance scheme is going to capture the retirees. We thank him very much “, he stated.
The National President urged the pensioners in the state to vote for the Governor in next year’s general election as appreciation for all he has been doing for them.
In her remarks, the state Chairman of NUP, Comrade Anna Ibiam said for many years, retired workers were not paid their pensions and gratuities until Governor Nwifuru came in and cleared it.
“Therefore, we, the Ebonyi State Council of NUP, have unanimously resolved to honour and endorse you for second tenure today with the award of the most pensioners friendly Governor”, she said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Local Government Staff Pension Board(LGSPB) in the state, Comrade Emeka Nwonu commended the pensioners for showing appreciation for all the Governor has done for them by honouring him and urged them to cast their votes for him in the 2027 general election.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, represented by Secretary to the Government, Professor Grace Umezuruike commended the NUP for honouring him and endorsing him for second tenure.
He implored them to replicate what the cement the honour and endorsement during the general election by voting for him.
He assaured that his administration will continue to improve the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state.
Similarly the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Ebonyi State chapter, after endorsing the governor called on the state government to introduce business-friendly policies, including single-digit interest loans and tax reforms, to stimulate the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The association also identified multiple taxation, difficulties in land acquisition, inadequate electricity supply, insecurity and the appointment of persons without relevant industrial experience to industry-related ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as major impediments to business development in the state.
The State Chairman of NASME, Mr Joseph Erishi, made the position known on Thursday when he led members of the association on an endorsement and advocacy visit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Secretariat in Abakaliki, where they presented an endorsement certificate to the party leadership for onward transmission to the governor.
Erishi, who presented an address on behalf of the association, described Nwifuru as an MSME-friendly governor whose commitment to entrepreneurship development and industrialisation had given business operators renewed confidence in the state’s economic prospects.
He commended the governor’s People’s Charter of Needs policy agenda, particularly initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, industrial development and economic diversification.
According to him, the establishment of the Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA), which received the governor’s assent on June 27, 2023, barely 30 days after his assumption of office, demonstrated the administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for small and medium-scale businesses.
He also cited the Ebonyi Pipe Industry, hatchery project and scholarship programmes as some of the interventions reflecting the administration’s broader development agenda.
The NASME chairman, however, maintained that deliberate policy interventions were needed to address the structural challenges confronting entrepreneurs and position Ebonyi as a competitive investment destination.
“MSMEs are the catalysts that can help in achieving laudable economic development which, if supported objectively, will boost our internally generated revenue and gradually take us to the league of Lagos and Ogun states,” he said.
He appealed to the APC leadership to prevail on the government to address the challenges confronting business operators, insisting that sustainable industrialisation could not be achieved without supportive policies, accessible financing and a favourable business environment.
Also speaking, the Ebonyi State APC Deputy Chairman South Mr. Nasir Ernest Nwaze commended NASME for aligning its entrepreneurship and industrialization agenda with the development aspirations of the state, urging its members to mobilise young entrepreneurs and other business stakeholders for the re-election of Governor Nwifuru and the success of APC candidates in 2027.
The association expressed appreciation to the party leadership for receiving its delegation and reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the APC-led government in advancing entrepreneurship, investment and industrial growth in Ebonyi State.
