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Tag: Gov. Soludo

  • Anambra health workers to withdraw services as Soludo, aides play pranks with truth

    Anambra health workers to withdraw services as Soludo, aides play pranks with truth

    Industrial tension may have reached breaking point within the Anambra State and her Local Government Areas health sector.

    The ugly situation as painted by the Anambra State Organized Health Sector Unions including the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAP) came up due to the non implementation and unanswered demands long approved for the members and were already being enjoyed by colleagues elsewhere.

    These health sector professionals include Nurses, Laboratory scientists, Pharmacists, and other Allied professionals working in Anambra State and the Local Government owned hospitals.

    The incensed workers in a letter dated August 19, 2025 to Gov Chukwuma Soludo to appraise and remind him of the tenuous plight, they lamenting that their cries have  been clearly muffled, ignored and clearly neglected.

    That the governments’ indifference, they suspected could have been as a result of wrong, false, misleading and or deceptive presentation of the true picture of things to the governor by aides.

    The alleged unfortunate misleading picture of stability in the sector being presented to Gov Chukwuma Soludo 

    The workers argue was far removed from the reality on ground.

    According to them, healthcare professionals in Anambra State live in penury, neglected by the same State government and her Councils who were expected to protect and empower them.

    Unfortunately their colleagues in other states of the federation, even those within the geopolitical area enjoy better remuneration/conditions of service already approved by the Federal Government.

    Consequently, the intense frustration, has apparently forced them to drop 4th September 2025 date to embark on a comprehensive industrial action.

    The situation which they dropped with pains before journalists at a media briefing in Awka, the state capital would affect all state and local government owned hospitals.

    When asked for a way out, they gave a firm response, “unless our demands are met, a total strike will inevitably commence across the state.”

    They insist that when this action begins, it will not be the workers alone who suffer the consequences but ordinary citizens, fathers, mothers, children, who depend on the health system daily.

    Responsibility, they maintain, will rest squarely with the governor and his aides who they accused of misrepresenting the true state of affairs in the sector to him.

    They however were reluctant to exonerate the governor of blame completely, as they tendered formally acknowledged letters serially forwarded to the governor over the months with no response or action.

     A History of Broken Promises and Silence

     The grievances of health workers in Anambra are not new, nor are they extravagant. They are demands tied to conditions of service already recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria and implemented in most states for more than five years. Some of these benefits have since been reviewed upward by as much as 25 percent. Yet in Anambra, workers remain stuck, pleading cap in hand for entitlements others already take for granted.

    The timeline of broken promises, the Union leaders say, tells its own story. On 6th January 2025, the first 15-day ultimatum given to the government expired. Instead of action, the unions were invited to dialogue with the Commissioner for Health. Promises were made that the resolutions would be transmitted to the governor for approval. But days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. For over seven months, there was no response, just silence.

    By July 2025, frustration reached boiling point. The workers issued a second ultimatum, effective from 1st August to 15th August. Again, the Commissioner convened a meeting, but the outcome was described as shallow and unconvincing. At the expanded State Executive Council meeting, members rejected the proposals outright, viewing them as an insult to their profession.

    On 20th August 2025, a third ultimatum was issued, giving the government until 3rd September to respond. Yet, once more, there was silence. With the deadline now drawing near, workers argue they have been left with no option but to proceed with industrial action.

     Demands That Are Just Clear, and Long Overdue

     The demands on the table are, according to the workers, neither excessive nor novel. Rather, they are basic conditions to ensure that health professionals can live and work with dignity. They include:

    *Full implementation of the 100% CONHESS salary structure across state and local government systems.

     *Implementation of the reviewed CONHESS table with a 25 percent upward adjustment.

    *Payment of Rural Posting Allowances for staff serving in remote areas.

    *Improved call duty, shift allowances, and hazard allowances that reflect the risks of their work.

    *Establishment of internship programmes for fresh graduates of Nursing Science and other health professions.

    *Conduct of overdue promotions in the Health Management Board (HMB) and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), with arrears settled.

    *Recruitment of additional health professionals to fill critical manpower gaps.

    “These are lawful entitlements,” one union leader explained. “They are already in effect in many neighbouring states. Anambra, with its wealth and human capital, should not continue to treat health workers as expendables”

     The Cost of Government Neglect

    Anambra is not one of Nigeria’s poorest states. It is a vibrant, economically viable state with industrious people, thriving commerce, and strong markets. Yet when it comes to investing in healthcare, workers argue, the government has chosen neglect.

    Despite being highly trained, many health workers in the state live in poverty. Salaries are irregular, allowances unpaid, and working conditions harsh. The result has been a steady exodus of professionals. Nurses and midwives trained in Anambra now leave in droves for Lagos, Abuja, or even outside Nigeria in search of dignity and fair pay.

    This systematic brain drain has left hospitals dangerously understaffed. Nurses are often forced to work 24-hour shifts for little pay. Midwives deliver babies without essential tools. Laboratory scientists operate without sufficient reagents. The outcome is a health system stretched to breaking point.

    “When conditions deteriorate to this extent, it is not only the worker who suffers,” said another senior health official. “It is every patient who walks through the hospital doors. The system collapses, and lives are placed at risk.”

     Allegations Against Aides

    Central to the workers’ grievances are accusations that Governor Soludo’s aides have failed to communicate the true situation to him. Union leaders allege that the governor is being misled by lieutenants who portray calm and satisfaction within the health sector while workers languish.

    “The aides are not serving him well,” said a union communiqué. “They are shielding him from the truth, pretending all is well, while hospitals decay and health workers despair. In failing us, they are failing him, and ultimately failing the people of Anambra.”

     *Potential Impact of the Strike* 

    If the strike begins as planned on 4th September, health services across Anambra will be paralysed. Public hospitals, primary health centres, and state-owned facilities will shut down. Emergency care, maternal health services, and routine outpatient care will all be disrupted.

    Union leaders warn that this action is not a bluff. It will be total, and its impact will be devastating. Patients will be turned away. Pregnant women will suffer delays in delivery. Children could die from preventable conditions. History, the workers caution, will record that silence triumphed over justice.

     The Way Forward

    Despite the looming crisis, health professionals insist the dispute can still be resolved. The solution, they say, lies in immediate government action:

    Implement the CONHESS structure and allowances without further delay.

    Honour outstanding promotions and recruit new staff to ease shortages.

    Recognise and respect health workers as the backbone of the state’s survival.

    The workers argue that these measures are within reach and require only political will. But with the strike deadline looming, they warn that time is running out.

     Survival of healthcare 

    For health professionals in Anambra, the issue transcends wages. It is a fight for dignity, justice, and the survival of healthcare in the state.

    “We have whispered, we have pleaded, we have written letters, and we have waited,” a union representative said. “Now we raise our voices for all to hear. The government must choose: listen to its health workers and avert disaster, or remain silent and watch the collapse of a sector upon which millions depend.”

    On 4th September 2025, if nothing changes, the strike will begin. And when it does, the unions stress, no one will be able to say they were not warned. The choice, they emphasized now rests firmly with Gov Soludo and his administration, stressing that they have endured enough, hence should not be blamed for the industrial disharmony.

  • 2027: Peter Obi responds to Gov Soludo’s mockery of one term bid

    2027: Peter Obi responds to Gov Soludo’s mockery of one term bid

    The presidential candidate of the Labour party(LP) in the 2023 general elections Peter Obi has maintained that he would only govern for one-term if elected as President in 2027.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State during a political rally held in Anambra South in support of his second-term ambition, slammed politicians promising to serve only one term in office.

    According to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, any politician pledging to serve only one term in office needs to undergo a psychiatric test.

    The governor questioned the logic behind such a promise, insisting that the Nigerian Constitution allows elected public officials to serve two terms, not just one.

    “How can anybody with a functioning brain say that? Do you think you’re speaking to fools?

    “You come to people and say you will do only one term, any politician who says that must be sent to a psychiatric home because the person must have some mental problem,” Soludo said.

    Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Peter Obi stressed that he will serve only one term of four years if elected President, stating that his vow is sacrosanct.

    According to the former Labour party presidential candidate, the decay in our society has made trust one of the scarcest and most sceptically viewed commodities.

    His statement read: “One of the greatest American Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, served only four years, yet his legacy endures as a model of principled leadership. Another iconic figure, John F. Kennedy, did not even complete a full term, yet his vision and ideals continue to inspire generations. In Africa, Nelson Mandela, revered globally as a symbol of justice and reconciliation, chose to serve only one term as President of South Africa, despite immense public pressure to stay longer. His decision was a deliberate act of leadership, a statement that power must serve the people, not the self. Indeed, history shows that the longer many African leaders remain in power, the more likely they are to be corrupted by it. Longevity in office is not a mark of success; rather, it is purposeful, accountable service – however brief – that defines true statesmanship.

    “It is within this context that I reiterate my vow: I will serve only one term of four years if elected President. And that vow is sacrosanct.

    “I am fully aware that the decay in our society has made trust one of the scarcest and most sceptically viewed commodities. Many Nigerians, understandably, no longer take politicians at their word. But even in this climate of cynicism, there are still a few whose actions have matched their words – whose integrity is built on verifiable precedent.

    “Recently, I became aware of two statements aimed, albeit indirectly, at my vow to serve only a single four-year term. One person remarked that even if I swore by a shrine, I still wouldn’t be believed. Another suggested that anyone talking about doing only one term should undergo psychiatric evaluation.

    “I understand the basis of their scepticism. They are judging me by their own standards – where political promises are made to be broken. But they forget, or perhaps choose to ignore, that Peter Obi is not cut from that cloth. I have a verifiable track record that speaks louder than speculation.

    “In my political life, my word is my bond. When I entered politics in Anambra State, I made clear and measurable promises to the people: to improve education and healthcare, to open up rural areas through road construction, and to manage public funds with prudence. I fulfilled each of those promises without deviation. I did not swear by a shrine, nor have I been certified mentally unstable as a result of honouring my word.

    “My vow to serve only one term of four years is a solemn commitment, rooted in my conviction that purposeful, transparent leadership does not require an eternity.

    “If making such a promise qualifies me for psychiatric evaluation, then we may as well question the mental fitness of those who framed our Constitution, which clearly stipulates a four-year renewable tenure.

    “I maintain without equivocation: if elected, I will not spend a day longer than four years in office. In fact, I believe that service should be impactful, not eternal.

    “We must rebuild trust in our country. I have dedicated my public life to demonstrating that leadership with integrity is not a myth. I have done it before, and I do not intend to betray that trust under any circumstances.

    “Forty-eight months is enough for any leader who is focused and prepared to make a meaningful difference. In that time, I intend not merely to make an impression, but to deliver on concrete promises to: sanitise our governance system; tackle insecurity through effective and accountable use of national resources; prioritise education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation; catalyse small businesses as engines of growth ; and combat corruption with unflinching resolve.

    “Above all, I will dedicate myself to transforming Nigeria from a consuming nation into a productive one, where agriculture, technology, and manufacturing replace rent-seeking and waste as our national anchors.

    “These are not utopian dreams. They are realistic, actionable goals that are achievable within four years.”

  • Gov Soludo bans “Iron Condemn”, mongers

    Gov Soludo bans “Iron Condemn”, mongers

    The Government of Anambra State has banned the activities of street corner iron mongers, popularly known as “iron condemned”.

    These scavengers who usually shout ” iron kwandem” to announce their presence in any area have been accused and allegedly found neck deep in some criminal activities including kidnap, robberies and spying for hoodlums/criminals.

    They have also been accused of abducting citizens, especially minors, outright stealing of properties

    The State Government’s action to ban their operations within the 21 councils reportedly followed the increasing notoriety of their activities.

    Their nuisance effect to the citizens, the reports indicated involved rampant theft and outright vandalization of critical infrastructures, any form of metal objects from public utilities, private properties without mercy or remorse.

    According to a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, the scavengers’ actions have had a pronounced detrimental impact on the state’s economy and the country as a whole.

    The government also warned that all individuals caught engaging in business with these scavengers will be arrested and prosecuted for receiving stolen property and or indulging in illegal business.

    Consequently, the Ministry of Environment has been mandated to register and certify legitimate scrap metal dealers, hence allow them to continue their business without hindrances.

    The civil enforcers of state laws/policies, -OCHA and SASA brigades have been tasked with enforcing the ban and apprehending any violators for prosecution.

    Citizens are urged to report any activities of the scavengers to the authorities for prompt action.

    The move according to residents was seen as a significant step towards maintaining law and order in the state and protecting public and private properties from theft and vandalism.

  • Gov Soludo’s unique formula to sharing rice palliative – Paul Nwosu

    Gov Soludo’s unique formula to sharing rice palliative – Paul Nwosu

    Finally, all the 21 Local Governments Areas of Anambra State have taken deliveries of their Rice Palliatives according to the timetable prepared by the Anambra State Palliatives Supervisory Committee and approved by
    Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR.
    Subsequently, the Local Governments have, since three weeks, commenced the orderly and peaceful distribution of the rice to the 326 Wards who would in turn strictly diffuse them down to the “Umunna” or kindreds, in line with the well thought out script by the Solution Governor. And that is the clincher which has separated the boys from men, the masters from apprentices and the mentors from mentees.
    This methodology seeks to leverage on our native social structure to ensure that the rice palliative reaches the dregs of our society.
    This is the first time a formula of this nature has been introduced in dispensing social welfare, targeted at the most vulnerable class in this country.
    To better appreciate what is happening in Anambra State, one must juxtapose the well choreographed distribution of rice palliatives in the State with the disturbing videos from around the country – the chaos that accompied the exercise tended to defeat the purpose of the well intentioned policy. You find a situation where a consignment of rice is being mobbed by the supposed beneficiaries. Naturally, the strong subdued the weak and make away with greater part of the produce while the actual vulnerable and weak ones contended with rice, spilled on the sandy floor as a result of the melee.
    For the distribution process to be devoid of rancour, Governor Soludo insisted that the exercise must be non-discriminatory. So, the Local Government and Ward Committees included the Transition Committee Chairmen, all the political Party Chairmen, the Clergy (Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal), Traditional Rulers, President Generals, political appointees from the area and Councillors.
    Unlike before when such largesse are distributed only to those in Awka or those who are able to travel to Awka, Ndi Anambra are so grateful to Governor Soludo for standing his ground that the poor and truly vulnerable must be the core beneficiaries of this rice palliative.
    In the days ahead, we’ll bring  you reports, photos and short videos of Ndi Anambra smiling home with their bags of rice to celebrate the Christmas.
  • 2023: Surprise as Peter Obi, Soludo seen talking together in Awka

    2023: Surprise as Peter Obi, Soludo seen talking together in Awka

    There was anxiety and drama in Awka, Anambra state capital  on Thursday evening when the  presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, met.

    Both political figures  met at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church during the thanksgiving mass for Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor in celebration of his 70th birthday and were seen embracing each other while exchanging pleasantries.

    Soludo created a scene by quickly running to where Obi was seated to hug him, why both men exchanged pleasantries.

    Meanwhile, Soludo,  described the rift between him and Obi as mischievous, insisted that the former Anambra governor remained his brother, irrespective of their political differences.

    Recall that Soludo wrote a piece where he dismissed Obi’s chances in next year’s election, saying he wouldn’t win.

    His piece reads in part ‘History beckons and I will not be silent,’ dismissed the chances of the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential poll.

    The article generated reactions across the country and particularly from Obi supporters, who heavily criticised the governor.

    However, Soludo, speaking during the thanksgiving mass, said he would soon be meeting Obi to iron out their differences, adding that their rift was essentially political.

    He also dismissed the rumour of $28m he allegedly collected to run down the LP presidential candidate, saying he would have been a trillionaire if he was into such.

    He said, “When I came in, I quickly went to where he sat and hugged him; people watched with bewilderment as if it was a drama, asking is it not the same people quarrelling?

    “Let me tell you, we spoke two times just last night. We are brothers. You know I am not one of those politicians that speak from two sides of the mouth. I can’t pretend.

    “There is no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamental political differences. Nothing else.

    “So for those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected bribe to say what I said, I ask them to bring it so I use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been a multi-trillionaire.”

    While thanking God for the life of Ezeokafor, the governor pointed out that the cleric had been of great influence on him and his government.

    Meanwhile, Obi didn’t speak at the event as he left mid way into the programme.

  • Gov. Soludo confirms beheading of lawmaker, stakes N10m reward

    Gov. Soludo confirms beheading of lawmaker, stakes N10m reward

    Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has condemned the killing and beheading of Mr Okechukwu Okoye, a member of the state House of Assembly and Director of his campaign organisation, Mr Cyril Chiegboka.

    The heads without (trunks) of Okoye and Chiegboka were discovered around Chisco park junction in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area on Saturday.

    Okoye, representing Aguata 1 State Constituency and Chiegboka, were abducted on May 15 by yet to be identified persons.

    Okoye hailed from Isuofia in Aguate LGA, the same community as Soludo.

    Soludo expressed sadness over the gruesome deaths and vowed to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.

    He promised N10 million reward for any person or group who would give credible information that could lead to the arrest of the murderers.

    According to a statement by Mr Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Soludo, Soludo received with shock and deep sadness the news of the gruesome murder of Okechukwu Okoye, member representing Aguata II Constituency at the State House of Assembly and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka.

    “Gov Soludo condoles with his kinsmen of Isuofia, noting that it is probably the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia two years ago that are once again on the prowl.

    ” But they can never cow down Isuofia Community and Anambra State.

    “Gov. Soludo, still in shock over the barbaric acts against his two kinsmen, vowed that the perpetrators, as well as all criminals operating in Anambra, must be decisively brought to book.

    “The Governor has consequently placed an N10 million reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act,” he said.

    Soludo said his administration would make Anambra uncomfortable for criminal elements in no distant time.

    He assured citizens and residents of Anambra of the government’s resolve and renewed determination with the security agencies to go all out against the criminals and ensure they are brought to justice.

    “Anambra will win against the forces of darkness, I urge Anambra people to brace up for the all-out war against the criminals”.

  • Gov. Soludo salutes Achebe, Obi of Onitsha on 81st birthday

    Gov. Soludo salutes Achebe, Obi of Onitsha on 81st birthday

    Gov Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has congratulated Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, on his 81st birthday anniversary.

    Soludo, who also congratulated Achebe on his 20th year reign on the throne, described him as a man of exemplary life and outstanding leadership qualities.

    Achebe clocked 81 on May 14.

    Soludo, who conveyed the message in a statement signed by Mr Christian Aburime, his Chief Press Secretary on Saturday, said the people of Anambra were proud of the traditional ruler and thanked God for His grace upon him.

    He said Achebe, who was also the Chairman of Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, had provided wise counsel and contributed immensely to the growth and development of Anambra, Southeast and the country.

    “Igwe Achebe is a worthy son of Anambra and an elder statesman whose fatherly disposition to issues in regard to peace and security in the state and the well-being of the people have continued to earn him the highest respect in the land.

    “As Igwe Achebe marks his 81st birthday anniversary, I join millions of Nigerians and well-wishers home and abroad in celebrating the auspicious occasion and wish him many more years of good health, wisdom and selfless service to God and humanity.

    “Governor Soludo also leverages this occasion to congratulate HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe on his 20th anniversary as the Obi of Onitsha,” he said.

  • Be fair in your political appointments – Clerics to Gov. Soludo

    Be fair in your political appointments – Clerics to Gov. Soludo

    Clerics under the Pentecostal Bishops Association of Anambra State Incorporated, have urged Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra State, to be fair with his political appointments and also focus on winning the war against insecurity in the state.

    The bishops were dismayed by the level of insecurity in the state and requested that urgent attention be taken to return the state to its pride of place.

    Newsmen reports that the message is contained in a communiqué made available to journalists on Friday after its two-day annual retreat held in Awka.

    The association urged Soludo to be focused in order to achieve his developmental plans for the state.

    The communiqué was signed by the president of the association, Archbishop Prince Nwodika, the chairman, Archbishop Ephraim Ndife, and the vice-chairman, Bishop Timothy Obidike.

    They urge the governor to correct the marginalisation of people of the Pentecostal denomination in the past.

    The clerics called on the citizens to join hands with the group for fervent prayers and support for the new government and prayed for God’s intervention in Nigeria.