You have no excuse to fail, Ikpeazu tells new Commissioners

Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Wednesday, told the 23 newly
sworn-in Commissioners in the state that they must deliver on their
mandate, with or without logistics.

At the swearing in ceremony of  the new members of the Abia State
Executive Council, Ikpeazu warned them to shape up or ship out as he
would not like to hear that they failed due to lack of logistic.

 “Service to state is not a work in the park. But I am sure that God’s
grace would be sufficient to see you through in your assignment. Lack
of logistics should not be an excuse for failure.

“We would like to hear that despite all odds, we succeeded, rather
than say because of odds, we did not succeed,” the governor said while
giving charge to the Commissioners.

But he assured them that government would provide them with the
necessary tools they would need to work with to succeed.

The governor said that a Commissioner would be rated according to his
performance after a month in office within which targets have been set
for them.

“I dare say that much is demanded of you. We have carefully worked out
some specific assignments and timelines such that within the first
month as Commissioner, you are expected to achieve a certain milestone
on the given assignment.

“If you are able to achieve that, you would have performed averagely.
But if you do that and bring to bear, other innovations that will make
work easier and faster for us, then, you would have become very
excellent,” the governor empahsised.

He reminded the Commissioners that their appointment was a call to
duty, noting that as an administration in its second and final term,
his government was in a hurry to deliver democracy dividends to the
populace.

“This government is in its second and final tenure and therefore we
are in a hurry to gain traction and achieve the mandate the people
have given to us and prescribed for us as assignment. We are going to
continue to run strong on our five pillars of the government but we
desire to work a little faster this time than before.

We are also not going to throw away quality service deliver at the altar of speed.

“Therefore, you are supposed to be at your best in aligning yourself
with the vision and policy of this government, as well as making your
own input in such a way as to expand, first, our vistas, in terms of
internally generated revenue, as may be the case in your various
ministries; to mobilise the workforce for better productivity in your
respective ministries and, at the same time, try to forge synergy with
other ministries, departments and agencies of government because
government is essentially an organism that must function in unison.”
He urged them to give their best to the state since they were chosen
because they were found fit to play a strategic role “at a time like
this,” warning that anyone who failed to perform would be shown the
way out without any consultation.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Commissioner for Finance,
Dr Aham Uko, assured the governor of their determination to add value
to the administration in the state by delivering on their mandate. Uko
also assured the governor of the loyalty.

Abia State Solicitor-General, Barr. Enyinnaya Okezie, administered the
oath of office on the new Commissioners during the event held at the
International Conference Centre, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, which was
graced by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu and the Speaker of
the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, among other top
government officials.

The Swearing in of the new Commissioners brings to 25, the number of
Commissioners currently in the state. Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uche Ihediwa; and Commissioner for
Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, were earlier sworn in last June.

Below are the newly sworn-in Commissioners and their portfolios:
        COMMISSIONERS                   PORTFOLIOS
1.      Chief Chimaobi Ebisike          Special Duties
2.      Chief John J. Okoro                     Joint Projects
3.      Lady Loveth Uwaoma                      Culture and Tourism
4.      Dr Cosmos Ndukwe                        Trade & Commerce
5.      Chief Ugboaja Theophilus Odionyemfe     Housing
6.      Mr Onyema Wachukwu -Small & Medium Scale Enterprises Development
7.      Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs
8.      Emeka Ikwuagwu          Youth, Sports  & Social development
9.      Dr. Barr. Bob Chidozie Ogu              Works
10.     Hon. D.K.Uduma                  Projects & Planning
11.     Chief Ekele Nwaohanmuo          Transport
12.     Chief Mrs Ukachi Amala          Women Affairs
13.     Dr Solomon Ogunji                       Environment
14.     Prince Ezekwesiri Ananaba       Cooperatives & Rural Development
15.     Chief Ikpechukwu Onuoha Petroleum & Solid Minerals Development
16.     Prince Dan Okoli                                  Homeland Security
17.     Alhaji Suleiman Ukandu  Lands, Survey & Urban Planning
18.     Dr. Aham Uko                    Finance
19.     Hon. Paul Chijioke Madumere             Science & Technology
20.     Dr. K.C.K Nwangwa                       Education
21.     Chief (Mrs.) Uwaoma Olewengwa   Industry
22.     Dr Joe Osuji                            Health
23.     Engr. Emma Nwabuko                      Public Utilities