From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said that his administration does not pay attention to ethnicity but gives premium on merit, capacity and ability, in its bid to rebuild the state after what he described as, many years of retrogression.
According to him, the use of qualified experts, not minding their birth place or state of origin, far outweighs other considerations. He noted that the job of repositioning the destroyed economy was quite enormous and needed urgent and proper handling.
The governor who spoke at the end of year prayer session of Eziukwu Road Market traders, in Aba, was represented by his Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Chimeremeze Okigbo.
He was delighted by measures put in place by the Interim Management Committee of the traders’ association within its short stay in office.
He restated his administration’s readiness to deliver on its campaign promises, especially in areas of infrastructural development and upgrade.
He praised the traders’ commitment in religiously carrying out their civic obligations, noting that the task of repositioning the state required enormous financial and material commitment.
The end of year prayer session which attracted large number of traders from across the state, afforded them the opportunity of rededicating themselves and their businesses to God, as well as appreciating Him for protection during the outgoing year.
Their leader, Alphonsus Udeigbo, applauded the governor for demonstrating responsible and responsive approach to governance by slashing their annual rate payment from N21,000 to N18,000.
Udeigbo, who doubles as general chairman of all market traders’ associations in the state, called on his colleagues to reciprocate the gesture by paying up their taxes and other approved levies before year end: “He introduced reforms in the market to include computerization of revenue collection, improved security using CCTV, installation of security gates in all entrance and exit points and abolition of inappropriate or unauthorized levies collection.
“Let motor park operations be only conducted with its approved location. Traders and other users of the market should pay only approved levies and ensure such are properly receipted to avoid the money going into private pockets.”