The Anambra Government wants residents of the state to use
Democracy Day to reflect on the state of the nation, rather than engaging in lavish
celebrations.
The state’s Commissioner for
Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, gave the advice in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka.
Analysts have criticized some state
governments for marking the Democracy Day with lavish celebrations at a time
millions of their citizens go to bed hungry from day to day.
Adinuba said that instead of the
usual merry-making, dinning and wining that had characterised the event in the
past, the Anambra Government wanted its citizens to have sober reflection on
the journey so far.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous
nation returned to popular democracy 19 years ago after a brutal military era
that was characterized by looting.
Adinuba said that Anambra had just
hosted the second term inauguration of Gov. Willie Obiano on March 17, and had
also hosted the Ohaneze Summit on May 21.
“So we reasoned that it is not good
enough for the state to get involved in another round of celebrations today. It
is not worth it.’’
He said, however, that the state had
recorded achievements in security, social harmony and promptness in the payment
of workers’ salaries.
“Anambra State Government is the only
state that has reviewed salaries of workers upwards and pays salaries of
workers on 25th of
every month in addition to other welfare plans for workers.
“As we talk, government has started
handing over brand new cars to all directors, based on seniority and we
challenge other states to emulate Anambra State in terms of workers’ welfare
and promotion of peace and security.’’
Adinuba said that the State
Government was waiting eagerly for the announcement of a new minimum wage for
workers by the Federal Government in August, saying: “we will be the first to
implement the new minimum wage’’.
The spokesman also told residents of
the state to disregard the planned sit-at-home order by the pro-Biafra group,
IPOB, describing the group’s directive as an illegality.
Commenting on the decision of the
Anambra Government not to celebrate, a resident of Awka, Mr Chidi Agim, said
that he was surprised that the State Government could not observe the Democracy
Day because of the significance of the day to Nigerians.
Agim argued that even if the
government did not want to mark the event with ceremony, the governor should
have addressed the people to enlighten them on what they should do in the face
of mounting challenges confronting the nation.
- NAN
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