Soludo: My administration rewards merit — many newly recruited teachers aren’t from Anambra

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, says his administration rewards merit irrespective of the state of origin or ethnicity of the beneficiaries.

Soludo spoke on Friday at a public lecture organised by the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu state, and the Ethics, AI and Higher Education Strategy (EAISTRAP).

The Anambra governor spoke on ‘Ethical leadership, security, and sustainable development.

He said ethical leadership involves doing the right, adhering to due process and recognising merit – regardless of whose interests are affected.

The Anambra governor said ethical leadership promotes transparency, accountability and merit, adding the form of leadership must be embraced.

Soludo said his administration is premised on ethical leadership that rewards merit, hard work, and qualifications in employment and appointments, adding that the state government does not appoint or employ people because they are indigenes of Anambra or otherwise.

He added that many of the schoolteachers recently recruited in the state are not indigenes of Anambra.

“This is why ethical leadership promotes transparency, accountability and merit, not considering who is involved or where one comes from,” Soludo was quoted as saying by NAN.

“In ethical leadership political patronage has no place; merit is rewarded through hard work and dedication to duty as well as judicious use of resources.

“Primary and secondary school teachers we recruited recently – many of them are not from Anambra state because they are qualified.

“Two civil servants who are non-indigenes are permanent secretaries in the state because my administration rewards merit no matter where you come from.

“One of the ways to move our country forward is for everyone to reward hard work and merit, not minding the local government or state of origin.

“It’s not an easy task when you insist the right thing should be done no matter whose ‘ox is gored’, but if you maintain your ground, those people attacking will either bow or run away.

“I have earned the trust of the Anambra people, and as they call me ‘The Solution’, because everyone knows I always go for the best.

“My mission in Anambra is to lay a solid foundation that will make Anambra the Dubai of Africa.”

He said his administration is clamping down on fake pastors and native doctors who are deceiving youths and telling them about no need for hard work.

“Our forefathers believed in hard work; I do not know where these fake pastors and native doctors get the idea that when you perform one evil ritual or the other, you get rich overnight without hard work,” he added.

“My administration is prosecuting many of them, and if they are found guilty by the court, they will be jailed.”