Abia monarch urges Gov Otti to prioritize education, job creation

 A member of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, King O’tuwa, has asked the current administration in the state to prioritize education and job creation.

He spoke while fielding questions to newsmen at his residence in the Amaoba-Oboro community in the Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

O’tuwa also urged Governor Alex Otti to centralize revenue generation and collections to halt the illegal collection of revenues or taxes from business shop owners, banks, companies, private education institutions, churches and corporate bodies by persons or firms contracted by the government.

“Revenue generation and collection in Abia should be centralized by the Governor. No contracting firm should be contracted to collect revenues in the state. Those charged with revenue generation and collections must do their work responsibly and morally.

“Self-governance without self-discipline cannot work. The taxes are for the State government to use in development. No for selfish individuals. Every resident, therefore, should pay their taxes for a smoother running of government. With a centralized system, the government could predict revenue generated through taxes. Tax dodgers should be punished. And those who engage in illegal collection of revenues should be jailed.

Tasking the state governor to make education a vital part of his administration, King O’tuwa advised the present government to adequately fund and improve education and job creation through Technology Transfer from developed nations to make living more tolerable for the youths.

“We must make sure every teacher is subjected to good training by requiring a minimum of university Bachelor’s degree qualification for all teachers in Abia schools.” He said.

“In many well-structured nations, judiciary and law enforcement generate a lot of revenues to their governments. People go to court to stamp vital documents; they pay for them.

“People go to court to swear affidavits, and they pay for them. The judiciary generates revenues through the issuance of court affidavits, court judgments, age affidavits, change of names, stamping, and many more. It is a revenue-generating machine.”

He also lauded the recent appointment of one of its scholars from Ama’ba Ikwuanó LGA, Professor Monica Ironkwe of the University of Port-Harcourt as a commissioner in Abia.

O’tuwa described Ironkwe as a seasoned intellectual, scholar and business gaint who has continued to make Ama’ba Community proud.