Civil servants in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, will receive extra N3,000 with their salary for this month as additional Christmas package, Governor Peter Obi has announced.

The governor broke the good news yesterday during an interactive session between him and the workers held at the Old Secretariat in Awka, the state capital. The announcement was greeted with thunderous applause and cheers from the workers. Obi also promised to address the problems facing every parastatal in the state.

The governor made the pledge after the workers had cast a vote of confidence for him and pledged their continued support for his administration. Obi’s administration, according to the workers, has remained the best since Anambra State was created in 1991.

The vote of confidence was expressed via Anambra’s Head of Service, Sir Chidi Ezeoke, who said that Governor Obi has not only taken care of the basic needs of workers, but that he has also continued to show great attributes of leadership by his constant and persistent demonstration of love even when people paid him back with hatred.

Ezeoke’s words: “From increase in salary of workers for the record five times, he has paid all the arrears of leave, pension and gratuity. He has also, more than anybody, provided basic infrastructure for workers such as the twin secretariat. Under him, Anambra now trains and retrains her civil servants. Just shortly before Christmas, he presented official vehicles to the Permanent Secretaries as well as all the judges in the state. He does all this amidst greater things he is doing in other sectors. Just two days ago, he presented three armoured vehicles to the police as well as 50 patrol vehicles. This is not all; you and I are witnesses to the great support the government is rendering to the missionaries to enable them rebuild the schools handed over to them.”

In his remarks, Obi said the routine interaction with workers is meant to demonstrate to them their importance to government as well as listen and dialogue with them on the progress and development of the state. He reminded them that as stakeholders, they should always realise that the future of the state should be uppermost in their minds.

Speaking at the occasion, the chairman of the state branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Patrick Obianyo, said the governor had done well in all ramifications but called on him to consider another increment in salary in the light of economic realities.

Also speaking at the occasion, a clergyman, Pastor Alphonsus Ginika Nwosu, thanked God for what he called “the precious gift of Peter Obi to the state.” He said that since Obi became governor, the foundation for the future of the state has been laid and prayed to God to give the state a successor that would follow in his footsteps.

•Photo: Gov. Obi addressing Anambra workers during the interactive session.