Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi on Friday said his administration would declare a state of emergency in the health and education sectors.
Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Mr Nwifuru, made this known in a statement on Friday.
According to him, the governor said this during a courtesy visit by members of Abakaliki Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria and the Management and Governing Council of Ebonyi State University.
He said the governor, considering the place of good health of citizens in engendering development, said his administration would not rest on its oars until the health and education sectors are reformed to optimum capacity.
“Many of the general hospitals in the state are not functional; how do we go about it? Now we are talking about human capital development, and we are talking about the welfare of our children and elders.
“We need to declare a state of emergency in this health sector. We need to have at least one functional hospital here in Abakaliki, and with our collective support, we will get it right,” he said.
The governor stated his readiness to approach the Federal Government for the possible return of the state’s Teaching Hospital to Ebonyi State University.
He called on members of the profession to rise against the infiltration of quacks among them.
On Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, the governor assured he would make it one of the best learning institutions in the world.
“I want Ebonyi State University to be the best university; we have the capacity and can do it. When it comes to the status of the university today, we are badly challenged,” Mr Nwifuru added.
The governor also mentioned his intention to reintroduce overseas scholarships to improve citizens’ educational standards.
“We are going to reactivate the Scholarship Board, and we will get it right,” he stated.
Earlier, the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria leader, Ozoemena Oboke, said they were in the governor’s office to congratulate him on his successful inauguration and equitable spread of political appointees.
Mr Oboke thanked the governor for appointing one of their members, Moses Ekuma, as the Commissioner for Health.
Also, at the courtesy visit, the Management and Governing Council of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, congratulated the governor on his emergence as the fourth Executive Governor of the state.
The Chairman of the Governing Council, Abraham Nwali and the Vice-Chancellor, Chigozie Ogbu, appealed for assistance to enable the university to tackle its financial challenges.
(Courtesy: Premium Times)
