We’ve been suffering abject neglect since 3 years -Ebonyi town

From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki

Town union presidents across the communities in Ebonyi State have cried out over what they described as abject neglect for the past three years.

The town union presidents said despite being the holders of grassroots where governance begins, they have not been carried along in the scheme of things in the state.

The community leaders voiced out in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Dr. Austin Aligwe, President General, Ndieze Enyum autonomous community, Izzi Local Government Area of the state, alleged that the government made laws for the welfare of town union presidents and approved N20,000 monthly stipend for each of them, which has not been paid for once since the last three years it came into power.

“We are suffering under this administration, we are suffering abject neglect. We are suffering under this administration when it comes to welfare. Of a truth, the governor is performing very well; he is doing marvelously well when it comes to infrastructure and workers’ welfare.

“But we want to call to his attention that town union governance is the grassroots administration, where administration starts from and we want to let him know that he should include us in his administration and make us proud of him.

“The truth remains that we are irrevocably committed to the success of this government, but we are trying to voice out that we were abandoned for the past three good years. Since the past three years, we have nothing to hold tenaciously as our welfare package from the Ebonyi State government or our representative members in the National Assembly.

“The state government made laws that we should be given N20,000 stipend monthly, but that is not to be; we have never been given and we are saying, let them pay us arrears of these stipends or even increase what they should be giving to us”, he stated.

On his part, Monday Eze, town union president, Alioma community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, alleged that the community leaders are redundant in the state and urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to incorporate them in the scheme of things. He said Peter Obi did well as Anambra State governor because he judiciously used town union presidents in running the affairs of his government.

Eze said, “I want to say that Ebonyi State government will achieve more security, more cohesion if they make use of town union presidents. In all honesty, town union presidents are redundant in Ebonyi State and we are willing to work, we have the fire. In Anambra State, Peter Obi recorded huge success because he made use of town union presidents.

“Here, in Ebonyi, it is difficult to take the messages of the state government down to the communities because we are not put in the picture. No allowances, nothing. So, we want to get involved in the governance of Ebonyi State. I am appealing to the governor of Ebonyi State, I am appealing to every stakeholders of the state not just for the purpose of winning election, let us get involved into the administration and the governance of Ebonyi State”.