Four Years Ago Today: Ex-Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s Revealing Interview

Four years ago today, ex-Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu sat down for an interview that would lay bare the policies and priorities of his administration. In the interview, he spoke on a range of issues, from healthcare and education to the running of the finances of the state.

One of the most moving instances of the interview was when Governor Ikpeazu explained his government’s policy of paying 500 Naira to new mothers who give birth in state facilities. When asked why they paid them, Ikpeazu replied it was to help with expenses such as transportation and baby care products. He also mentioned that the payment was an addition to the free delivery and baby care package provided by the state.

The interview also touched on the issue of resident doctors in the state not being paid. The doctors, then, had allegedly not been paid for as long as 20 months, something Governor Ikpeazu acknowledged was unacceptable.

 Although he did not go as far as to acknowledge the specific number of months that the doctors had not been paid, he promised to ensure that all state employees, including doctors, were paid on time.

Governor Ikpeazu also cited his administration’s work in reforming the state’s financial management systems and generally improving the efficiency of government institutions.

 He cited the example of one institution that had been able to operate without any problems for four years, thanks to his administration’s reforms.

Reflecting on this interview four years later, we see that some of the questions tackled are still applicable to this present time. The conversation itself makes us remember how transparency and accountability in governance along with functional working policies and initiatives that serve to improve people’s welfare are so important.