Empowerment projects targeting youths, not govt appointees, warns Nwifuru

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, on Sunday, stated that his administration’s empowerment programmes are designed to target the youths, not to provide opportunities for members of the State Executive Council (SEC), Judiciary, local government chairmen and coordinators.

The governor also warned those sabotaging government contracts in their various localities to stop, calling on town unions and other key arms of the community development process to supervise jobs in their areas in line with government specifications.

He commended the youths of the state for not joining the planned nationwide protest, even as he urged officials not to take the honour given to the state by the youths for granted.

Governor Nwifuru stated this during a Church Service at the Government House Chapel, Abakaliki, and further charged Local Government Chairmen and Coordinators of Development Centres to embark on projects that will have a direct impact on the people.

Nwifuru said, “They didn’t protest because we are perfect; rather, they motivated us to do more. It’s a challenge for us government officials to ensure we do more, and this protest is a small indication of what we should expect tomorrow. If care is not taken, there may be a total shutdown.

“If you are a Coordinator or a Local Government Chairman and live in Abakaliki and you hardly go to the village, you don’t expect people to follow you. You must work in the interest of the people. Our youths need your attention.

“As a Coordinator, you should be executing a project worth not less than 10 million Naira monthly, and Chairmen are supposed to be executing projects worth not less than 20 million Naira every month.

“You reside in Abakaliki because the Governor gave you a conducive environment; why can’t you get back to the village and do the same thing?”