Though Nigerians see pay cut by politicians and governors as gratifying enough as the country faces serious economic challenges, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, on Sunday declared that this was not the solution to the problem.
Just days ago when President Muhammadu Buhari bailed out state governors with funds to pay salary arrears, about 22 states were said to be owing workers in their various states.
Since 29th May, some state governors, the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had slashed their salaries by 50 percent, but Umahi, who spoke after a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said this was not even enough to encourage development.
According to Umahi, instead of pay cut, the governors should come up with policies and programmes that would boost economic activities in their various states.
He added that the dip in oil prices globally was a good lesson for Nigeria as it is a wake-up call to the governors to eveolve ways to make their states economically viable.
“This 50 percent pay cut by some of the governors is not the way out of our present situation in the country. For instance, I earn N600,000 per month and if that is halved, I will take home N300,000 in a month.
“That is not the kind of money that will turn around the fortune of my people in Ebonyi State.
“I strongly feel we should go beyond that level; we should endeavour to re-invent our respective states to make them viable and more productive,” he said.
For example, the governor said, he started working almost immediately he was sworn into office to ensure that his state is re-positioned for investments that are capable of increasing the wealth of the state.
Umahi, who said he was doing everything to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue, he added: “since revenue being generated from oil has dwindled which has led to serious reduction in federal allocation, our administration has taken steps to look for alternative means of generating money.
“First, we upgraded our civil service because that it is key to the actualisation of our policies.
“Then, we are working seriously to bring in many investors into our state to partner with us especially on rice production.
“I sincerely find it ridiculous that as of now, we still import food and something as minute as toothpicks from overseas.
“With huge investment and infrastructure, Ebonyi has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed Nigerians and even for export.
“This is because of our vast land for rice cultivation and people who have a lot of potential.
“In Ebonyi, we have like five rice mills but there is paucity of fund to make the facilities world-class.
“And on this, we have approached the Federal Government for assistance.
“Apart from that, we will tap the mineral resources like copper, bauxite, clay and other God-given resources, and make the state one of the best in the country.
“Like former President Obasanjo told me, I will definitely continue the good projects embarked upon by the former governor and adjust where necessary, all in the name of making our people reap the benefits of good governance.”
On his part, former President Obasanjo expressed optimism that Governor Umahi would do well in government.