By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The Managing Director of Imo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, ISOPADEC, Augustine Onyedebelu, has reacted to the allegation that he said the commission is being under-funded, and cannot pay its workers.
He frowned at the allegation, saying that it is a “lie from the pit of hell”, as the commission is even over-funded by Governor Hope Uzodimma through some projects executed and the ones still in the pipeline.
Onyedebelu made his stand known on Thursday, while interacting with newsmen, at his office in Owerri, the state capital.
He noted that he did not discuss such a thing with traditional rulers as the people alleged, clarifying that the commission has never owed salaries to the workers since he assumed office 5 months ago.
The MD pointed out that they have even settled old debts he met when he came into office, hinting that the rumour is from “political enemies, and is just a distraction to what the governor is doing in the state”.
Onyedebelu continued that contrary to the speculations, that Governor Uzodimma is even over-funding the commission as the commission in the short period he has been in office has gone ahead to achieve a lot of things, “beginning from the supply of drugs to the health centers in the three LGAs, supply of exercise books to the primary schools in the LGAs”.
He continued, “we have embarked on construction of the four 20 beds general hospitals, which will be completed in three months time, and will be commissioned by the governor. We are renovating our three general hospitals, one at Isiala Mbano, at Amaigbo, and Egbema respectively.
“We have picked up the completion of the 24 primary schools that was left out in 2023, by the past administration before I came, and we are finishing them within four months, which the governor will also be commissioning. We are about to embark on construction of six new schools of six classroom blocks.
“We are sponsoring young graduates to Europe for various programmes, such as cyber security, artificial intelligence. We are also sponsoring over 100 young graduates for a specialized technical programme that will be done here in Nigeria, but they will get international certifications. Upon graduation they will have well paid jobs awaiting them.
“We are enrolling all the ISOPADEC staff who are about 315 persons into the Imo Health Insurance Programme, which is a huge sum of money.
“So the governor instead of under-funding the commission is over funding it with these projects,’Onyedeblu stated’.
Saying that they are working out more life-changing programmes to enhance the life of their people, called on the ‘rumour mongers’ to encourage the governor to continue the ‘good works’ he is doing both in ISOPADEC regions, and Imo State at large, instead of giving out false information.
