By Suzy Chukwuechedom | Anambra
ANAMBRA STATE — Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has commissioned a 3-kilometre road in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, describing the project as evidence that the local government system in the state is now fully functional and delivering infrastructure at the grassroots.
The road, executed by the Ekwusigo Local Government under the leadership of its Mayor, Hon. Chimezie Obi, was constructed with sub-cement stabilization, stone base and asphalt finishing.
Commissioning the project, Soludo commended the quality of the road and said he doubted whether any local government in Nigeria had delivered a road of similar standard in the last 20 years.
“Today in Ekwusigo Local Government, we’ve come to commission three kilometres of road, completed with sub-cement stabilization, stone base, and asphalting by a local government administration under the able leadership of the Mayor, Chimezie. I want to congratulate you. I commend you,” the Governor said.
Soludo attributed the development to reforms introduced by his administration to reposition local governments for greater efficiency, accountability and sustainability.
He said the state government had restructured the local administration framework through new local government laws designed to strengthen fiscal capacity and accountability at the third tier of government.
According to him, the era when local governments could not meet basic obligations, including payment of primary healthcare workers, pensioners and gratuities, is over in Anambra.
The Governor also addressed a 24-year-old salary backlog owed to some primary school teachers, recalling that the affected teachers had 16 months of salary arrears dating back to 2001, with successive administrations making partial payments.
Soludo disclosed that his administration had commenced a fresh recertification exercise for the outstanding arrears, valued at more than N400 million, with payment expected to begin after the verification exercise.
He described the Ekwusigo road as a “proof of concept” of what empowered local councils can achieve, adding that he would in the coming weeks embark on a tour of local government areas to commission similar projects executed by various mayors.
The Governor further said Anambra remained a major construction site under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) administration, with more than 137 road projects and other infrastructure awaiting commissioning across the state.
“The people’s money is working for the benefit of the people,” Soludo declared while officially commissioning the road.
Earlier, the Mayor of Ekwusigo, Hon. Chimezie Obi, said his administration was deliberately modelling its governance after Soludo’s blueprint contained in the People’s Manifesto.
Obi listed other community-focused projects executed by the council in healthcare, education, youth empowerment and infrastructure.
After commissioning the road, Soludo drove through the entire stretch to inspect its quality. He also commissioned a newly built legislative building within the Ekwusigo Local Government Secretariat and presented cash gifts to students and schools that participated in the council’s skill acquisition and empowerment programme.
The event was attended by government officials, APGA stakeholders, traditional rulers and community leaders from Ekwusigo.
