Gov Elechi tasks NIPSS on national challenges

From NACHOR NABOB OGBONNA, Abakaliki 
Posted: Tuesday, July 26, 2011

THE Ebonyi State governor, Chief Martin Elechi, yesterday called on the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to participate more on challenging issues that deal on national development. 
Governor Elechi made this call at Government House, Abakaliki, when participants in Group 5, Course 33 of the institute paid him a courtesy call. 
Elechi who called on them to present papers on topical issues affecting the development of the country to the National Assembly added that such would bring into focus the true idealism of our founding fathers.  
 "We are still managing the unitary form of government where the state agencies insist that laws made by the federal government for its agencies, should apply to them especially as it concerns wages," he said. 
He however lauded the institute for it roles which the governor said majored on resolving issues on nation's diversity, stressing that such when adequately implemented would uplift our Nigeria. 
The governor also asked the participants who were expected to spend one week in the course of the studies in the state to look into areas that would be of great benefit to his state and report those necessary negative points adding that such would aid the government to identify and seek improvement on those areas. 
Director in the institute and Leader of the delegation, Prof Ajah Akpuru-Ajah, who thanked the governor for receiving them, noted that the team was on fact-finding mission which was not aimed at antagonizing anybody in the state. 
Prof. Akpuru-Ajah, who is a native of Ebonyi also used the occasion to call on politicians to apply the virtues of attitudinal change as well as change their negative impression on opposition parties as enemies, pointing out that such change would greatly change the tune of our nation political environment. 
"So politicians should not see their opponents as rivals but as partners in the overall development of the nation's political sphere, that is the only true way that peace and stability will be achieved", he said. 
He further explained that leadership, infrastructural development, security, political parties, youth's development, culture, and border will be their major focus of study in the state.