Imo professionals appeals to Uzodinma to reopen schools

ONITHA, Anambra, Nigeria – League of Imo State Professionals, Anambra State chapter on Thursday called on Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma to urgently fix date for the resumption of schools in the state.

The group, an umbrella association of Imo State indigenous professionals based in Anambra state made the call at the end of its emergency meeting held in Awka on Friday. The statement signed by Mr Francis Onyeukwu and Okechukwu Maduforo, chairman and secretary of the group respectively, noted that resumption of schools after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gave advise which enabled some state governments to reopen schools was important.

The body said, given the fact that education is the major industry in the state; which successive administrations in the area have tried to sustain; Gov. Uzodinma should not allow Imo to lag behind in the sector due to delayed policy action.

“Imo government is privileged to have erudite professor of Pharmacognosy like, Prof. Maurice Iwu to chairman it’s COVID-19 Committee and that advantage should make the state be among the state to know the dos and dots of post disease control crowd management.  

“It is worrisome that most state governments in the north, South-West, and even a sister state like Anambra have reopened schools for non examination classes, yet Imo has not make a statement to that effect,’’ the group said.

The leadership of the body however used the medium to commend the governor for his efforts in the construction of urban roads in Owerri abandoned by past governments, as well as ensuring improved sanitation in the state capital.

The League of Imo State Professionals urged Gov. Hope Uzodinma to ensure he award roads, bridges and other construction contracts to firms with proven records for quality job delivery as that is the only way to ensure that the state has value for monies spent on projects.

“We expects the present All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Imo State to toll the path of efficiency job delivery and not to return to the era when roads built with tax payers money collapsed while the contractors are still on site,’’ the group stated.

They however, advised the governor to look into claims of non-payment of salaries and pension by some workers and pensioners in the state with a view to addressing them as that would promote better government/workers relationship.