Investigatorsnews

Rt. Hon. Justice Nze, Executive Chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area, is one of the few LG helmsmen in the State, well experienced in local government administration; having served in the past as Councillor of his ward and Leader of Ikeduru Legislative Council. 

In this exclusive interview, Hon. Justice Nze, gives his scorecard in barely one year on the saddle as the executive Chairman.

He commended Gov Uzodimma for ensuring that the Retreat of top executive cadre of staff of the local government was a resounding Success:

The Interview.

I want to first of all, seize this opportunity to commend the Executive Governor of Imo State for organising a successful local governnent executive staff retreat for us. It was not only for the Executive Chairmen and Councillors; Secretaries of the 27 local government areas, Treasurers, Internal Auditors and DAGs were all involved and we gathered  a lot of experiences from it. Part of what we gathered are being implemented in our various local government areas right now. I have the advantage of benefiting more having had this kind of retreat as a councillor and Leader of Ikeduru Legislative Council in the past.

On carrying Stakeholders along  in the decision making process in line with the directive of Gov Hope Uzodimma:

I have been carrying  stakeholders in my local government area along in the decision-making process especially as it concerns the execution of projects in the various communities. We are also aware that the need of every community in terms of projects vary. They are not the same. We call it needs assessment. You know that I have been part of the local government system earlier before now, so it's not new to me. So, I discuss the need of every community before projects are executed.

In the first stakeholders' meeting I called, it was on Needs Assessment i.e the needs of various communities because their needs are peculiar, not the same at all. While some may need solar-powered lights for security reasons, others present boreholes, roads, markets, while some others may need renovation of schools, Health Centers, etc. Having gathered the needs, we now try to execute them within the confines of the funds available at our disposal.

My Achievements so far:

When I came in here in September 2024, the council was in a state of disrepair. Structures of the Executive and Legislative arms were nothing to write home about. The leaking roofs were first of all tackled and then, cleaners were brought in to clean the whole place up. I replaced door blinds, bought high powered fans for both the Executive arm and the legislative arm. I also bought air conditioners, and refurbished the broken down and abandoned upholsteries and the old and rickety ones. Then, I renovated the offices of my vice, the Chairperson's, the  Secretary of the local government, the legislative chamber, which I translated to one of the best in Imo State. In fact, I made sure I put in place modern furniture for the councillors and supervisory councillors.

Again, on assumption of office, members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were not happy because there were no conveniences in the council but they soon became happy because I built a modern convenience (four modern toilets) for them... 2 for the males and 2 for the female. The source of water supply was reactivated. The damaged sumo and

GPs, for collection and storage of water, were all replaced. The quarters for both staff and corps members that were without light and water were given due attention with the borehole replaced and made functional. Power lines that were summarily vandalized were also replaced, and power restored after paying the EEDC bills owed for a long time. 

Furthermore, the Immigration building, which co-houses the corps members, was put back in good shape after the restoration of vandaized power lines and source of water. The LG Counil canteen  is 90% completed, and the clean-up  of the council  compound is done every 3 weeks: that is why the premises are always clean.

Outside Secretariat Premises:

Timber/Allied Market Ngugo;

In one of my unscheduled visits, I discovered that the Timber and Allied Market Ngugo did not have a source of water supply or convenience. Today, there is a modern convenience for traders and their customers. And a functional clean borehole with an overhead tank present there. 

Also, the link road to the market right from the major road that used to be impassable was properly graded last December and is now very good.

Last December, 84.6 kilometres of Ikeduru roads were graded. They traversed the 29 autonomous communities in the area. 

In my administration, we have a development policy we call  _One Month, One Project._ Under this programme,  we fashioned out what we called "Light up Ikeduru Project" in the local government, wherein a total of 50 solar powered panels are coupled and are mounted everywhere in our respective communities in Ikeduru. Presently, under the light up programme, a total of  8 wards out of 12 wards are beneficiaries of our light up Ikeduru Project, and presently, all have been mounted. Before the year runs out, the remaining four 4 wards would have theirs. Apart from the aesthetics the programme gives to our respective communities, its illumination was also aimed at providing security to our respective communities in Ikeduru.

Again, a grounded 200kva transformer was repaired and delivered in Umushievelle Owalla Avuvu. 

At Eke Atta market, approval has been given and all monies paid for a modern abattoir. 

Also importantly, efforts have been made to repair and rehabilitate very bad roads and tackle erosion problems in the LGA. I drew the attention of our beloved and listening Executive Governor of Imo State to the very bad state of the Umushievelle Owalla Avuvu gully erosion site and the Orie Amakohia-Owu Amakohia gully erosion site and the Governor, Dist Sen Hope Uzodimma, in his usual magnanimity, graciously approved and put into the 2025 budget the two gully erosion sites.

-It is also worth noting that the gully erosion site at Ugiri Ike and the Inyishi Dam site have been taken over by the federal government, courtesy of our revered and beloved Governor. 

Just recently, four (4) additional offices have been properly rehabilitated to provide offices to our honourable councillors. And a brand new generating set has been provided to power both the legislative chamber and the adjourning offices in the event of any power failure. This was done to make our councillors comfortable and make their work hitch free.

Agriculture:

In the area of agriculture, through my empowerment scheme, I have empowered the youths of Ikeduru through the provision of fingerlings, feed and cash gifts. 

Also, we have planted more than 500 palm seedlings in the council farm inside the council headquarters. 

Involvement of Ikeduru  Diasporans:

In my administration, I have brought on board our brothers and sisters living overseas to come and partner with us to build and develop Ikeduru, our motherland. The effort has yielded fruit. Today, a modern motor park at Amanwozuzu is under construction under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Through a tenders board that was properly constituted, the contract was properly advertised, bid for, and awarded. More contracts are expected from that end.

Sports:

In area of sports, we have not sponsored any competition, but our football teams that performed wonderfully well in the Governor's Cup and Imo State organized football tournaments were well received and appreciated ...END