Staff who brandish doctorate and other higher degrees in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State risk being embarrassed, as the Chairman of the Council, Chima Boniface Njoku classifies them as valueless
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
The controversial Chairman of Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State Chima Boniface Njoku is at it again. The out-spoken Council Chairman who does not behave or think like everyone else, but has independent and unusual opinions has warned that he does not want Master’s or PhD holders applying for jobs in his local government.
In the footage circulating widely online, Njoku issued a blunt warning saying: “Masters and PhD holders should go to Port Harcourt and look for work, they should not come near me. My local government is for rural dwellers, B.Sc and WAEC certificates holders and so don’t ever address me with the Professor title attached to your name.”
Njoku said people who have not contributed to the development of Etche should not expect him to distribute resources to them, adding that those who have done nothing for Etche should not expect him to share money to them, insisting that he would only recognize individuals who have actively supported the local government.
Reacting to the Chairman’s outburst, a stakeholder in Etche, Mr. Patrick Nkwoh said that it is unfortunate that we have small minds occupying executive positions. “What the Chairman is saying does not make sense, the LGA is for both the poor and rich, educated and illiterate, young and old, men and women. He should be more creative and innovative so as to take Etche to a greater height and not occupying himself with things that does not matter.
Daniel Otu in his reaction dismissed what the Chairman said as rubbish. According to him, the Chairman is looking for people that he will be paying between N30,000 and N40,000 monthly as salary, while pocketing the rest of the money. He wants to be like his Oga, Wike by fire. “He is a mediocre and noisy parrot,” Otu said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia was at Okehi, Headquarters of the Council on Njoku’s invitation penultimate week.
During the visit, the NUJ Chairman congratulated the Etche Local Government Chairman on his recent victory at the polls, noting that his barely three-month tenure has witnesses an upsurge of projects and achievements, which he described as unprecedented.
Bazia specifically pinpointed the recorded victory over land grabbers, which he said was mesmerizing entire Etche Local Government Area before the advent of the current LGA Chairman. The NUJ Chairman pointed out that with this Etche has regained its position as food basket of Rivers State.
“We congratulate you, the Executive Chairman of Etche Local Government, on your recent victory at the polls.
Your achievements within these few months of assumption of office are unprecedented. For example, you have squarely tacked the menace of land grabbing in Etche and with this, Etche has been reinstated as the food basket of Rivers State,” the NUJ Chairman said.
He also noted with satisfaction that Njoku has procured 5000KVA transformers for almost all the 19 wards of Etche local government to boost power supply and of course, provoke economic development in the area. Other achievements the NUJ Chairman noted were purchase of land property for Councilors which he said will enhance peace and harmony between the Executive and the Legislative Arm in the LGA.
The number one journalist in Rivers State urged the Council Chairman to sustain the tempo, assuring that the Rivers State Council of NUJ under his watch, as mirror of the society will support him in all his endeavours.
In the press release signed by Assistant Secretary NUJ, Mr. Barth Ndubuwah, the Etche Council Chairman thanked the delegation for coming and pledge to partner with NUJ to enhance its statutory duties as the watch dog of the society.
According to the statement, the Chairman used the opportunity to throw more light on his achievements within the short period of his administration, just as he identified land grabbing, insecurity and inadequate power supply as some of the challenges that confronted his administration on assumption of office.
Njoku told his visitors that he was proud to say that those problems have been tacked within this short period of his administration. He also said that his administration has connected Etche to Band A of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), for better power supply, adding that the Council pays all the electric bills without default
Njoku also confirmed that he has earmarked the sum of N120 million for the Councilors personal landed property, to put to rest the perpetual poverty that usually greet councilors when they leave office and assured NUJ of his administration’s readiness to partner with them to achieve better results.
“Let me congratulate and thank you for coming and as a Council, we promise to partner with you in the discharge of your duties,” he said.
While commending the Etche LGA Chairman for working so hard to end the menace of land grabbing in his domain, Azunda Celestine added that he is not just the Chairman but also the law. Masters and PhD holders should stay away from the council is quite funny and regrettable.
