Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate promises housing, pension reforms for workers

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has unveiled a new welfare package for civil servants and teachers in the state ahead of next year’s election, promising to restore the state’s public service to its “past glorious days”.

Addressing representatives of Ebonyi civil servants and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) during a meeting at his Lagos residence, Odii disclosed that central to his agenda is a workers’ housing scheme aimed at solving post-retirement housing challenges.

Odii pledged to deliver 1,000 housing units in his first year in office and up to 5,000 within four years. He stated the project would run without direct state funding by using structured contributions and existing pension assets.

“Many die when they discover that they can no longer afford to pay for accommodation after retirement,” Odii said.

He also proposed a paperless digital portal allowing civil servants to access loans against their contributory pensions.

“It will be an automated scheme. You don’t have to go through paper applications. A civil servant who needs money can comfortably visit the app and borrow based on his or her contributory pension,” he explained.

Addressing long standing delays in retirement benefits, Odii promised immediate access to funds upon retirement.

“The very day you retire, you can access your benefits,” he said.

To reform civil service promotions, he proposed computer-based testing with instant results to ensure transparency.

For education, Odii outlined a “smart-school initiative” combining academic learning with practical skills, the revival of boarding schools, and new teacher welfare incentives, including staff quarters and car loans.

Odii also announced plans to establish owner-occupier farm estates across all local government areas and development centres to drive agricultural productivity among public workers. He vowed that he will not receive a salary if elected Ebonyi State governor.

“I will not take a single kobo as salary until I complete my intended four years,” he declared.