The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Toochukwu Uzoh, has highlighted the development efforts of the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru across key sectors of the state.
In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abakaliki, Uzoh said the administration had recorded progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, digital technology, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and industrialisation.
He was responding to comments by opposition figures in the state, including Franklin Awuzie and Pascal Okechukwu, who had raised concerns about the performance of the administration.
The Commissioner said “political criticism was legitimate in a democracy but should be based on verifiable facts, policies and measurable outcomes.”
According to him, the administration had pursued its “People’s Charter of Needs” through programmes aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of workers, pensioners, youths, women and other residents.
Uzoh cited the payment of pension and gratuity arrears dating back to 1996, overseas scholarships for more than 1,000 Ebonyi indigenes pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes, the construction of Smart Model Schools and the establishment of an ICT University as some of the administration’s investments in human capital development.
On healthcare, he said “the government had upgraded and equipped healthcare facilities, recruited health workers and improved remuneration and welfare packages for resident doctors.”
He said that civil servants and about 200,000 residents had been enrolled in the state health insurance scheme.
On infrastructure, Uzoh said the state government had embarked on road construction across Ebonyi, including rural and community roads.
He said more than 800 kilometres of rural and community roads had either been initiated or completed.
The Commissioner explained that the government had invested in housing and resettlement programmes, including housing for widows, vulnerable residents, civil servants and people displaced by communal conflicts.
On digital transformation, he said; “the government deployed fibre-optic infrastructure across the state capital and other areas, provided free internet services for students and public offices, and trained and certified more than 2,000 residents in advanced ICT skills.”
Uzoh said the government was also pursuing industrialisation through the revitalisation of pipe production, hatchery and fertiliser factories, as well as the development of the Ebonyi State Industrial City in Izhiangbo, Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
On agriculture and youth empowerment, he said 200 youths trained in Nasarawa State received N5 million each as start-up capital, while other beneficiaries received grants and support for businesses in rice production, fishery, poultry, piggery and other agro-based enterprises.
