Obiano To Accord Civil Service Top Priority

Governor Willie Obiano of
Anambra State has said that his administration will continue to accord top priority to the civil service.
Obiano, who made the remark at the 2015 Civil Service Day celebration in Awka described civil servants as the most visible representatives of the state.
The theme of the celebration was “The Role of the Public Service in Women Empowerment, Innovation and Accessible Service Delivery”.
According to him, the overall economic and social health of any state can be effectively gauged from the condition of its civil servants.
He stressed the need to take stock and reflect on how to move the state forward, and described the theme as apt and imperative.
Obiano said that in the past one year, his administration had demonstrated a great deal of sensitivity to the plight of workers in the state.
“A few weeks after I was sworn in as your governor, we took bold steps to look into the difficulties workers were having in transporting themselves to Awka from various parts of the state.
“Consequently, we provided four buses to convey workers from Onitsha, Otuocha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia to and from Awka.
“We also donated three buses to NLC, NUC and JNC,” he said.
He said that less than one year into his administration, the government increased workers’ salaries by 15 per cent.
“I also assured you people that I would do more if our internally generated revenue grows. I plan to keep that promise,” he said.
He said that the government was able to clear the salaries of Water Corporation staff that were outstanding for three years.
Obiano added also that the government ensured that promotion and conversion of some categories of workers were done in their due time.
“We did not hesitate to review the case of the 135 staff of ABS that was laid off just before my administration came into place.
“We made sure that the affected staffs were all re-absorbed into the system,” he said.
Obiano urged the workers to put in their best in the service of the state.