…Approves N3.9bn for equipping of Uburu Teaching Hospital
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, and Commissioner for Human Capital Development, Barrister Orji Uchenna, has disclosed that the state executive council has approved the disbursement of N2bn, for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME).
Orji stated this while briefing journalists on the outcome of Wednesday exco meeting at the Government House Executive Council Chambers, Abakaliki.
The commissioner who reiterated that the money was secured from Central Bank of Nigeria by the state government, noted that it was resolved that a number of groups will have to participate in accessing the loan.
“We have the small business owners, they will have a fraction of that N2bn. We also have the Vocational College that is up and running, that is where we will develop our artisans especially those talented ones that are on the streets.
”We will develop and give them capacity as well as certification. Government feels that we also need to inject some money to ensure that the programme does not fail”, Orji added.
He said that the market women will also take a chunk of the money to enable them to develop their trades as well as the market men.
Adding that the youths will also be accommodated even as he pointed out that repented cultists would not be left out.
“We hope that when this N2bn is invested in human development in any of these areas, it will add enough in ensuring self reliance and self sufficiency and people will also be proud employers of labour.
‘I want to say that this money is not going to be grant. Last tenure we did a lot of disbursements that were grants, but in order to ensure performance, seriousness and that beneficiaries keep to their promise of making good use of the money, exco resolved that all the beneficiaries will pay back this money with single digit interest of 6%. And as a matter of fact this is very fair.
“The disbursement will start immediately and SSA on Human Capital Development in my office, we will sit on the matter and see to it that it was properly disbursed.
“And in doing this, we also interfaced with Zenith Bank which gave us the money, so that they will also monitor the performance.
“This shows that anybody that is ready to do business in Ebonyi state is entitled to partake of the loan. And usually, the governor does his things on equality of local governments and equality of zones” he stated.
He further disclosed that CBN scheduled Ebonyi as one of the states that will do aquaculture in its SMEs programmes, stressing that government will collect names of interested persons that will go into aquaculture.
Orji said it can be commercial or small holders, and that the assignment will be handled by the Deputy Chief of Staff, stressing that he was given two weeks to ensure that interested persons are shortlisted and are giving necessary assistance to secure the loan.
The commissioner for Health during the briefing revealed that the State Government also approved N3.9bn for equipping of the new State University Teaching Hospital under construction at Uburu in Ohoazara Local Government Area.
The commissioner, Dr Daniel Umezuruike said the payment for the equipment would be paid by installment.
Adding that the state government was fully prepared to equip the teaching hospital to effectively serve the people.
He noted that the approval would also be sent to the State House of Assembly for further approval, before any procurement would be made.
“The approvals today were three in number. One, is for the equipping of the theatre. It may interest to know that we have about 11 theatre suites, making up all the specialties of the surgical unit.
“The total proposal is N1.9bn and it is to supplied by the leading manufacturers in theatre equipment and general electric. The payment schedule is that 50 percent is to be paid before they commence production.
“The other department is the centre of excellence in maternal and child health where the total equipment needs is about N800m and 50 percent is also to be paid.
“The central sterilizing and supply department and physiotherapy and dental units were combined with a proposal of all the modern equipment of about N600m and 50 percent is also to be paid.
“Another interesting unit is the dialysis unit, which will come with a 12 units dialysis centre and it is to be supplied by the leading name in the Swizerland, and they will provide 12 dialysis units with two spare ones, making it about 14. The total cost is N1.15 euros (N600m) and 50 percent is also to be paid.
“Council approved all these proposals and also to be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for further approval; because His Excellency believes in due process,” he stated.
