By Chris Chikelue/Nwakaego Okafor
The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the reason for establishing a Federal Secretariat in Awka is to reduce cost of governance and improve service delivery in the state.
President Muhammadu Buhari said this while commissioning the Federal Secretariat Complex in Awka, Anambra State.
The complex was named after the first Nigerian female Engineer and Head of Service, HOS, Mrs. Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke.
While delivering his speech, President Buhari represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chief Chris Ngige described the Complex as a legacy project and a confirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment to renew, upgrade and expand development of infrastructure across the country.
According to the President, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, in its meeting has passed a policy/regulation for the maintenance of all Federal Secretariats and in saying this people that are to use these structures should handle with care all items that are fixed in these secretariats.
The President also told the workers to emulate Mrs. Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke. He said, “workers should sit in their work places and be productive.
“They should be diligent in their places of work; they should decide in themselves that they should conform to the Public Service rules.
“They should come early to work and do their works and shun acts that are inimical to the growth of their work and shun bribery and other acts of corruption.
In the same manner Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government urged workers to maintain all government projects.
“The State Secretariat and the Federal Secretariat are co-located so Ministries can interface with their counterparts to get the jobs done.
“Every year the state Government spends a lot of money paying rent for a number of Federal agencies, and now that this has been commissioned they will be able to move into their offices.’’
The Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola who thanked President Buhari for the support he gave him to render services to Nigerians said the project would help in achieving sustainable development for the State and the country.
Contractor of the project Chief Cosmas Agagbo said quality was the watchword in executing the project and called for maintenance as and when due.
Chikelue and Okafor are Officers of Ministry of Information
