RE: ONE YEAR OF SHARED PROSPERITY IN IMO STATE
5 POINT BLUEPRINT OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL OF THE SHARED PROSPERITY GOVERNMENT
The winding year 2020 came with attendant vicissitudes which directly and adversely affected the economic fortunes of every enterprise and nations globally. The resulting effects weights on the living standards of humanity and as such, a responsible government / leadership must plan and implement measures and policies for the resuscitation of her economy for the overall wellbeing of her citizenry.
This Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma designed a “5-Point Blueprint of Economic Survival”. This anchors on the consolidation of existing programs and policies of the administration vis-à-vis: the civil service reform; education and capacity building; health and environment; economic restructuring and good governance.
A quick review of the above affirms a connection and synergy brewed for a systematic operation of governance. The engine room of government remains the civil service and this has been the bedrock of major administrative decisions of this government. The elimination of corruption and complicity from the activities of civil servants cum politicians would greatly save the state from loss of revenue. The first step towards improvement of income is the reduction of expenditure, especially the illegally siphoned public funds. While appealing to the civil servants for a redress and implementation of automated processes, the government is not unaware of their welfare. As critical as it is, an automation of their remuneration pioneered the reform instituted by the Shared Prosperity administration.
In carrying out the ongoing civil service reform, a great fraud masterminded my a payroll cabal, made up of civil servants and politicians, was uncovered and blocked. The automation of the system has greatly save the state from loss of scarce funds. The Shared Prosperity administration purchased and deployed staff buses for civil servants. This has greatly improved on the resumption time and efficiency of the staff. The Shared Prosperity administration has continued to improve the lots of civil servants in the state in order to have a shared responsibility in the economic resuscitation of the state.
On Education, Manpower and capacity building, these have featured prominently on the programs of the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. Upon resumption of office, recall that His Excellency created various mission critical portfolios. These attracted condemnation during creation but now enjoy commendation. Through these new ministries and portfolios, the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellent the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma have carried out various empowerment programs across the state.
The impact and resulting effects of these empowerment programs on the economic growth of the state cannot be overemphasized. Apart from the individual positive impact, there are both direct and indirect impact on the economic growth of the state. An indirect tax benefit to the state and as well a direct tax. Improvement on Internally Generated Revenue doesn’t have to be about imposing more levies tax upon the citizens but, an improved system with enabling platform for skills to flourish. Great nations anchored their growth on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
The various skills acquisition and empowerment programs of the Shared Prosperity administration has continued to generate applause, internationally and nationally. The 2021 Budget of Wealth Creation as presented by His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and passed into law by the Imo State House of Assembly, targets the stimulation and acceleration of economic growth through SMEs.
On education, recall that the ousted administration of PDP had setup a visitation panel of enquiry on the activities of the Imo State University. Upon resumption, the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma granted the committee and other, clean bill of continuity. The report of the committee has been submitted and implementation ongoing. This would further strengthen the smooth operation of the institution. The infrastructural decay suffered by the institution has received facelift via the intervention of the Shared Prosperity administration.
The University of Environmental Studies which hitherto had a defective legislation had been activated by NUC for commencement. This was made possible via an executive bill from His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. It’s resulting effect is the decentralization of Imo State Polytechnic campus into three. The economic growth this would garner for the various host communities would ensure a simultaneous urbanization of these alongside the state capital. With these institutions flourishing, capacity building of manpower remains absolute.
On Health and Environment, recently His Excellency flagged off the Imo State Waste Management Agency with operational trucks and waste bins procured from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM). This did not only create jobs but also an enabling environment for business operation and investment. Legislation on proper dumping of refuse at approved locations has been assented to by His Excellency. This would ensure a return of normalcy in Imo State with respect to the ecological balance, waste management and cleanliness of the state.
Recall that His Excellency had previously launched the Mobile Clinics which were to serve the rural areas lacking Primary Health Centers. A review of the existing health care facilities showed a terrible decay and fixing it would require a minimum timeframe of 18-months. During the outbreak of COVID-19 global pandemic, the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma built a lasting isolation center in the three geopolitical zones of the state. The management of the recorded cases within the state speaks volume of the measures put in place to curtail the spread of the virus.
Good governance and democracy thrives only on the alter of rule of law. The Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency has continued to sustain rule of law even in the wake of provocations. Enabling environment and extant laws have been put in place for the constant compliance to the rule of law. The domestication of the Criminal Administrative Justice bill would greatly speed up trials and offer justice to the innocent. Being a democratic dispensation, the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has exemplified leadership with his sportsmanship approach to governance. This he had once warned of mistaking his humility for cowardice. As simple as it is, many refused to comprehend the ideology behind this statement – in summary, His Excellency is a law abiding citizen. The application, flourishing and upholding of rule of law, creates a great confidence level for investors into the state
The economic status of the state was in comatose prior to the resumption of duty by the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. His Excellency immediately swung into action by reviewing alternative source of revenue other than FAAC, which would at the same time beef economic growth. State enterprises that have not been operational had a fresh breath – Adapalm; the Statesman Newspaper; Imo Transport Company, just to mention but a few. The revitalization of these resulted into an upward improvement on state IGR and economic activities. A juxtapose of the economic growth in the state now with the past would clearly spell out an improvement.
There is a direct connection of these five point blueprint of economic survival towards the growth of the economy. The striking point here being the stimulation of every sector of the economy for a simultaneous growth. It is therefore imperative that individuals and corporate establishments within the state support the programs and policies of the Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma towards the growth of the economy via Small and Medium Enterprises. To cap it all, the Shared Prosperity administration presented the 2021 budget with the theme “The Budget of Wealth Creation”. This budget, based on the Federal Government’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), is largely driven by non-oil output.
The Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma would continue with policies that will guarantee increased private sector investment, productivity as well as boost youth agro entrepreneurship to encourage the growth of small and medium scale enterprises.