FIC Report (Abia State) – Abia State Government (ABSG) has reaffirmed it’s commitment to honouring all the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently with the State branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu made this known while briefing the press.
He said that the MOU followed an agreement reached between the state government and leadership of JUSUN concerning the strike action the JUSUN embarked upon.
“You are all aware that just last Thursday, the State Government reached an agreement with JUSUN during which both parties signed an MOU.
“The State Government I must inform you is irrevocably committed to honouring all the terms of the MOU,” Prince Kanu stated.
The Commissioner, who disclosed that all necessary paperwork for the payment of their salaries are being finalized, expressed optimism that members of JUSUN would likely receive credit alerts in their accounts before the close of work on Tuesday.
He attributed the delay in payment to the paperwork involved in processing very huge workers wages.
The Commissioner announced that Governor Alex Otti would flag off the 13 kilometres Onuinyang – Okporoenyi – Oboro – Ikwuano road, sections 1 & 2. According to him,
“You will recall that late last year, precisely in the month of October, we informed you that the state Ministry of Works had procured nine roads for construction and reconstruction works. Before now, three of the roads had been flagged- off. The sections 1 and 2 of the about – to – be – flagged off roads constitute the fourth and fifth of the nine earlier procured roads that are yet to be flagged off.
“Interestingly, the sections 1 &2 of the soon – to- be – flagged-off road project cuts across two senatorial zones of Abia North and Abia Central,” Prince Kanu stated.
He also informed that the construction of the Enyimba International Hotel Aba would soon commence as the state would on 9th February 2025 sign an MOU with its managing partners.
Prince Okey Kanu said that the ongoing reforms in the judiciary which include construction of 17 court buildings across the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia state have reached various stages of completion. He also said that the digitization program of the state’s judicial administrative system which seeks to enhance justice delivery is on course and geared towards making the Abia Judiciary system 21st-century compliant.
“Recall the late last year, we informed you that the state government was going to construct court buildings across the 17 LGAs of the state. The program is on course.
“As part of the reforms of the state justice system, the digitization initiative of the state government in the Judiciary is ongoing and is meant to enhance the dispensation of Justice and to make the state judiciary system 21st century compliant,” Prince Kanu maintained.
Speaking also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna noted that all areas of concern as raised by the JUSUN in the new minimum wage have been taken care of, adding that judiciary staff are expected to start receiving their salaries to give room for the industrial action to be called off.
He said that all paper works and other arrangements delaying the formal commencement of the construction of the new Enyimba International Hotel Aba have been sorted out culminating in the planned signing of MOU with the investors in February.
He informed that the court halls which are at different levels of construction would be completed by March, 2025. He further explained that the administration of the justice system in Abia state is undergoing digital transformation, explaining that, “The idea is that from the probate registry to the high court, to the magistrate court, the customary court of appeal , arrangements have been made for the scanning of all these documents, so that no matter what the document is, within seconds you are able to find that document in the central storage system,” Barr. Uwanna stated.
Contributing , Director General, Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Architect Uche Ukeje said that the construction of the Enyimba International Hotel Aba would be consummated through the signing of MOU by the Radisson Blu, an international investor reputable in the hospitality industry.
He said that the hotel would have many facilities including three different conference rooms with 2,500, 1,500 and 1,000 capacities which would make Aba a destination of choice for conferences.
Architect Ukeje also disclosed that the Governor has approved that a bridge be built to serve as a connection link between Tonimas to 7 Up in Aba. He said that, “What that would do is that commuters driving through Ogbor hill don’t need to pass through Ikot -Ekpene road. Rather, they would pass through the bridge and arrive at either Brass junction or Tonimas,” Ukeje stated.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC Umuahia Abia state.
