Nkechinyere Ewa
The Director General of Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC), comprising SALT 98.1 FM and SALT Television, Comrade Tony Nwizi, has commended the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the people through the well-structured People’s Charter of Needs mantra.
Nwizi stated that the government’s projects, empowerment programmes, policies, and provision of social amenities are all aligned with the real needs of Ebonyians.
He made the remarks when a team of journalists paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abakaliki, where he gave an overview of Governor Nwifuru’s achievements since assuming office as the fourth Executive Governor of the State.
According to him, the Governor began his administration by addressing the long-neglected arrears of gratuities and pensions dating back to 1996, releasing ₦4 billion to settle the debts owed state and local government retirees.
“When His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, assumed office on May 29, 2023, he introduced the People’s Charter of Needs, promising to govern based on the actual needs of the people,” Nwizi recalled.
“True to his word, he began by settling pension arrears that had been ignored by previous administrations, bringing relief and renewed hope to our retirees.”
He described how the payment restored dignity to many pensioners, some of whom reportedly received their long-awaited benefits while hospitalized. “It looked like a joke, but it happened,” Nwizi said, adding that the gesture “gave many of them a new lease on life.”
On education, the EBBC boss noted that the Governor had launched extensive renovations and new constructions across primary and secondary schools in the State to restore quality learning environments.
“He divided the education sector into primary/secondary and tertiary levels,” Nwizi explained. “In the basic education sector, he awarded contracts mostly to local contractors to build modern classroom blocks and recruited over 1,000 teachers to strengthen the system while eliminating unqualified private schools.”
Speaking on tertiary education, Nwizi highlighted the Governor’s intervention at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), where he cleared outstanding allowances owed to lecturers and increased the institution’s overhead funding.
He also lauded the scholarship scheme that granted 1,000 graduates opportunities to pursue advanced studies 300 abroad and 700 within Nigeria. “Over 200 Ebonyians are currently studying overseas with all expenses paid,” Nwizi said.
“This initiative will not only empower individual families but also elevate the academic and economic standing of the State in the long run.”
Nwizi, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, emphasised that the Nwifuru-led administration is setting a remarkable standard in responsive governance by ensuring that every action reflects the true needs of the people.