Governor Hope Uzodimma has read the riot act to members of two Commissions – the Imo State House of Assembly Service Commission and the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission – charging them to commit their wealth of experience to deliver on the mandate given to them or consider resignation.
The Governor said he was giving them the marching order on the responsibility he has placed on their shoulder and will have zero tolerance for complaints and consequently, lack of performance.
He spoke at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri on Tuesday while inaugurating the members of the Commissions.
While former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Paul Emeziem heads the Imo State House of Assembly Service Commission comprising four members in all, Engr. Sam Nwire, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, was inaugurated as the Chairman of the eight-man members of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Governor Uzodimma urged them to regulate the operations of both Commissions, strengthen and bring sanity in their operations for the economic growth of Imo State.
The Governor said that the inauguration was another “match to rescue Imo State from economic slumber and make her rank with other States where activities are better regulated.”
He said when the House of the Assembly Service Commission is well regulated it will impact positively on the State, insisting that with the number of bills he has assented into law since assumption of office, “there is no doubt that the House of Assembly has done very well in this administration.”
He therefore insisted that the process of regulating the activities of the House of Assembly and its operations has made it necessary to constitute the Commission.
Regarding the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Governor Uzodimma informed that if the State must have a robust economy, that will be sustainable, it must “start with power, which is electricity.”
He recalled that moving power generation and distribution from the exclusive list of the 1999 Constitution as amended to the concurrent list has given the States the opportunity to source for their own power generation, distribution and transmission.
He said that Imo State is taking advantage of the alteration in the Constitution to source for her own power and to effectively accomplish the dream, there will be need for audit of Imo State’s assets in the old power company, hence the importance of the Commission.
Governor Uzodimma said that the assemblage of highly tested and professional members, men and women,
into the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission was to ensure that they liaise with the Federal, State and Local Governments to ensure that the above target is realised.
“The State Electricity Regulatory Commission is made up of men and women with vast experience in the power sector who can always interface and achieve results without disappointing the expectations of the Government.”
Interestingly, the Governor announced that Imo State has secured technical and financial support amounting to $200million from her private partners which will be injected into the Imo power project and that all the financial involvement will be executed by the partners with Imo contributing no dime and borrowing no dime for the project.
Expressing his confidence on the power project, the Governor said that Imo State will soon express 24 hours power supply in all the Local Government Areas, with the Orashi Electricity Company Limited fully activated to light up Imo come January 2025.
He therefore charged members of the Electricity company Commission to work very hard to ensure they do not disappoint the government and people of Imo State, assuring that the Government will give them all the necessary support as well as providing the enabling environment they need to succeed.
Governor Uzodimma specifically urged the Chairman and his team to persuade the Federal Government to give back to Imo State her assets in the original power sector to enable them supply power to Imo State.
The Governor regretted that before he came on board Imo State did not have an economy and promised that by the end of his administration, he must have created an economy Imo people will be proud andhappy with, and enjoined the Electricity Regulatory Commission members to go and work with the Orashi Electricity Company Limited to deliver on the mandate they have.
“You must cooperate among yourselves, avoid quarrels and apply your wealth of knowledge to give Imo the power they require from you. We are interested in results. I am not interested in complaints. You must perform and if you think you will not perform, you better think about resignation.”
In their separate votes of thanks, Rt. Hon. Emeziem and Engr Nwire thanked the Governor for finding them worthy for the appointments, reposing in them the enormous responsibility and promised not to disappoint the Governor, the Government and people of Imo State.
They said they are bound by their oaths to deliver on the assigned responsibilities.
Other members of the House of Assembly Service Commission include – Hon. Chinedu Onyemaobi (Secretary), Dr. Lady Clara Njoku and Hon. Lady Obiageri Ajoku.
The other members of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission are: Barr. Chinemerem Nnawuihe, Engr. Bede Opara, Engr. Celestine Onwuharaonye, Hon. Lady Chidinma Oparaocha, Mr. Nnamdi Okwuosa, Barr. (Mrs.) Ogechi Ogu and Barr. (Mrs) Adaobi Aniche.
The Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, members of the Expanded Executive Council and other stakeholders attended the inauguration.