Governor Hope Uzodimma has inagurated the Imo State House of Assembly Service Commission and the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, with a charge to members to commit their wealth of experience to deliver on the mandate given to them
The Governor warned that there will be zero tolerance for complaints and lack of performance in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He spoke at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri on Tuesday while inaugurating the members of the Commissions.
Former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Paul Emeziem heads the Imo State House of Assembly Service Commission while Engr. Sam Nwire, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, is the Chairman of the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Governor Uzodimma urged them to regulate the operations of both Commissions, strengthen and bring sanity in their operations for the economic growth of Imo State.
The Governor said that the inauguration was another “match to rescue Imo State from economic slumber and make her rank with other States where activities are better regulated.”
He said when the House of the Assembly Service Commission is well regulated it will impact positively on the State, insisting that with the number of bills he has assented into law since assumption of office, “there is no doubt that the House of Assembly has done very well in this administration.”
He said that the need to regulate the activities of the House of Assembly and its operations has made it necessary to constitute the Commission.
Regarding the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Governor Uzodimma said that if the State must have a robust economy, that will be sustainable, it must “start with power, which is electricity.”
He recalled that moving power generation and distribution from the exclusive list of the 1999 Constitution as amended to the concurrent list has given the States the opportunity to source for their own power generation, distribution and transmission.
He said that Imo State is taking advantage of the alteration in the Constitution to source for her own power and to effectively accomplish the dream, there will be need for audit of Imo State’s assets in the old power company, hence the importance of the Commission.
Governor Uzodimma said that the assemblage of highly tested and professional members, men and women, into the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission was to ensure that they liaise with the Federal, State and Local Governments to ensure that the above target is realised.
Uzodimma urged the Chairman and his team to persuade the Federal Government to give back to Imo State her assets in the original power sector to enable them supply power to Imo State.
The Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, members of the Expanded Executive Council and other stakeholders attended the inauguration.