From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti has sworn in Edo State-born Benson Ojeikere as the new Head of Service of Abia State.
This is as the state has commenced the out of school policy with the reopening of public schools in the state on Monday
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this in Umuahia, described the appointment of Mr. Ojeikere as unprecedented.
“This is a landmark appointment given the fact that he is not from Abia State but because His Excellency believes in meritocracy and that there is no dividing line between an Abia citizen or a resident. Once you are living in Abia, you are part and parcel of Abia State.
“It’s an unprecedented move consistent with the governor’s disposition towards meritocracy and policy of indigeneship; he has sworn in Mr. Benson Ojeikere of Edo State origin as the new Head of Service in Abia State.
Mr. Ojeikere, it was gathered, emerged as the best Corper in Abia state in the 1999/2000 batch of the NYSC service year and was retained by the then government of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
It was revealed that the new HoS rose through the ranks to be a Director, a Permanent Secretary before his present appointment.
In another breathe, the State government has commenced the Out-of-School Policy it had announced last year.
Kanu said in line with this, government has set up a special taskforce to enforce compliance with the initiative, aimed at eradicating the out-of-school children in the State.
“The out-of-school policy of the state government has commenced officially with the reopening of schools Monday. A special taskforce to enforce compliance has been put in place by the state government.
“This policy is very dear to the heart of His Excellency, and his intention is to achieve a zero tolerance with out of school children in the State.
“So in the days ahead, this special taskforce will ensure the compliance of this policy that is directed to ensure that the indigenes of the state who are indigent for some reasons or the other are not left behind in regards to education which of course we know is the best way to empower people,” the Commisioner stated.
Whoops