Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has issued a stern warning to Local Government Chairmen and Coordinators of Development Centres about contractual sabotage and “empowerment diversion” within his administration. Speaking during a church service at the Government House Chapel in Abakaliki, he emphasized that any form of sabotage in government contracts would not be tolerated.
Nwifuru instructed that Town Unions and other community development groups should oversee local projects to ensure compliance with government specifications. He stressed the importance of local officials being actively involved in their communities, stating that coordinators should handle projects worth at least ₦10 million monthly, while local government chairmen should manage projects of no less than ₦20 million monthly.
The governor also praised the youth for their restraint in not participating in a recent nationwide protest. He acknowledged that while the government is not perfect, their decision to refrain from protesting is a challenge to government officials to improve. He highlighted that the empowerment programs are intended to benefit the youth and urged officials to manage public utilities with a sense of ownership and responsibility.