Ndi Imo | RE: OCDA, HOUSE OF CORRUPTION AS EXORTION, WITCH HUNTING, STAFF VICTIMIZATION SLOWLY EATS UP THE AGENCY. IKPAMEZIE ASKS GOVERNOR TO PROBE HIM. Re:
RE: OCDA, HOUSE OF CORRUPTION AS EXORTION, WITCH HUNTING, STAFF VICTIMIZATION SLOWLY EATS UP THE AGENCY. IKPAMEZIE ASKS GOVERNOR TO PROBE HIM. Re:
The attention of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), under the Eagle eyes of Engr. Francis Chukwu has been drawn to a publication with the above stated headline with no byline on Defender Express Newspaper wherein a number of unfounded allegations were levelled against the person and office of the Special Adviser/General Manager of the Agency Engineer Francis Chukwu.
Ordinarily, we wouldn't have responded to not just the one sided but poorly worded and unedited publication. However, for the avoidance of doubt and the benefits of the reading public we have decided to honourably respond in order to basically put the records straight. It is disheartening and unfortunate that the Defender Express Newspaper could not reach the OCDA GM for comments before publishing the jaundiced and frivolous news, this is unethical in Journalism. Let it be known that the SA/GM of OCDA Engr. Francis Chukwu has remained very media friendly and is very accessible at his office at the State Government Agency along Port Harcourt road Owerri the State Capital hence, the claim that the GM couldn't be reached for comments, is not only spurious but fallacious and self indicting on the part of the faceless writer.
Nevertheless, for the purposes of clarity on issues affecting the State Government Agency, Engr. Francis Chukwu as a technocrat and foreign trained Engineer has remained focused on actualizing the set goals of the Shared Prosperity Administration of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma for the Agency encapsulated in the mandate of sanitization and restoration of Public Confidence in the Activities of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), vested on the GM upon his Appointment by Governor Uzodimma. Engr. Chukwu's led OCDA Administration is doing everything possible within the armbits of the law to satisfy the aspirations of the Governor, OCDA workers, esteemed clients of the Agency as well as the general public.
Instead of toeing the path of other well meaning Imolites who have commended the Engr. Chukwu's OCDA leadership for the unique reforms it has introduced in less than six months in office in order to sanitize the Agency and restore public confidence in its activities such as the Novel introduction of Electronic receipts with Micro Chips which is very phenomenal and has succeeded in checkmating receipt racketeering and reducing the falsification of receipts to the bearest minimum, Transparent and thorough process of appointing Revenue Collection and Debt Recovery Agents as well as ensuring their Training by great resource persons in the capacity of two erudite Professors from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Owerri. Aside these, Engr. Francis Chukwu's OCDA Administration has equally conducted a capacity building workshop for the Management and Staff of OCDA to ensure retooling and reorientation for higher productivity. In addition to this, under the stewardship of the youthful SA/GM of OCDA Engr Francis Chukwu, there has been effective and efficient significant synergy between Owerri Capital Development Authority with virtually all its active collaborative Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as other allied Professional bodies.
Undoubtedly, the above stated reforms in no small measure resulted to the geometric rise in the revenue profile of OCDA from about 20% when Engr. Chukwu took over to 100% that has been sustained so far. Indeed, it beats one's imagination how an Agency that has earned such level of viability will be tagged a House of Corruption. The big question is, can a House of Corruption be viable enough to raise and sustain revenue profile by over 80% in less than five months period. If the monies the faceless writer claimed that don't enter the State Government Treasury Single Account (TSA) has any form of validity by the writer's claims, how did the revenue profile rise to what it is presently.
Notably, among other the policies and programmes carried out by the OCDA helmsman so far was the Owerri Capital City wide Awareness Campaign tagged Operation Reclaim Owerri Capital Territory from Shanties and Street Trading." This well thought out campaign was carried out to inform, educate and enlighten residents of Owerri especially those doing their businesses at the unapproved areas to move into designated markets meant for the businesses for not just the safety of the business operatives but also for serenity of the State Capital, before the time slated for implementation of the Action plan. It is worthy of mention that before any clearing or demolition exercise is carried out, the concerned citizens have been given the several notices in accordance with the extant laws.
Interestingly, Engr. Chukwu as an experienced youngman has been very proactive as he understands that sometimes some impostors can commit certain crimes of extortion in the name of OCDA Agents or Taskforces. To this end, he introduced OCDA hotlines which were made available to members of the public through various radio programmes on the State Government Orient FM, Hot FM, Heritage FM as well as the various Social Media platforms of the Agency like the Agency's Authentic Facebook Page which is "Owerri Capital Development Authority @ OCDA 3R." Additionally, Engr. Chukwu ensured the branding of all genuine Vehicles of the OCDA Agents with the hotlines so that Imolites can easily call and seek clarification in the events where they suspect foul play in the Activities of the Agents. More so, Engr. Francis Chukwu also initiated and has sustained a Radio Programme tagged "OCDA THIS WEEK" This progam is aired every Thursday by 9:45AM on Orient 94.5 FM and on Fridays by 9:30 AM on Heritage 88.7 FM. The radio program in which the hotlines are always announced while the program is on, is designed to also inform, educate and enlighten intending and existing developers on the things that are expected of them as well the day to day activities of the Agency under the stewardship of the Governor's Aide. It is also germane to make it categorically clear that since Engr. Francis Chukwu came on board as the SA/GM of OCDA, he has maintained an open door policy as everyone who wishes to meet with him has been granted access to the Youthful General Manager who even works till sometimes 9:PM everyday in order to ensure that he not only treats all the files on his desk for each day but also to attend to Staff and visitors accordingly.
On the issue of Staff Victimization, this can best be described as the figment of the faceless writer's warped imagination because the verifiable truth remains that Engr. Francis Chukwu right from day one at the Agency has remained for everyone. Apart from his periodic interfaces with the OCDA workers during meetings in which opportunity is accorded to the Staff to air their views through questions and suggestions, the Governor's Aide also introduced a weekly devotion which holds every Wednesday morning at the OCDA Chapel and he also addresses the Staff briefly immediately after the Spiritual activity.
Essentially, one of the claims made by the unknown writer was that Engr. Francis Chukwu employed a Town Planner, this is obviously laughable as GM has never employed any Staff of the Agency since he commenced overseeing the Agency. As a cinscionable personality and due process oriented Public Office Holder, Engr. Chukwu had followed well known procedure of applying for Employment Waiver which when granted, transparency will also be applied in the employment process. Thus, one wonders how Defender Express arrived at its fallacy that Engr. Chukwu employed a Town Planner which is totally unfounded.
Obviously, Engr. Chukwu has remained very transparent and has attached serious importance to proper feedback mechanism knowing fully well that it is one of the secrets of purposeful leadership that will always engender accountability, transparency and actualization of the optimal results at all times
