Okorocha And His Free Education
For the past two and half years now since Governor Rochas Okorocha became the Governor of Imo state, what has dominated many discussion within and outside the state is his free education policy to pupils and students of the state schools system.
In as much as we applaud the idea, it is also good to make public the true position of this “Greek gift” to the people.
Yes, greek gift because the so-called free education of Governor Okorocha is not free after all.
People had waited patiently to hear Governor Okorocha explain to the people this magic wand of free education gift because, rather than paying or taking responsibility of the financial expenses of these pupils and students, Imo state Government wrecks in as much as well over two billion naira ( N2.b) monthly from this smart thought out policy.
For those who do not know, it is no news that every civil servant in Imo state contributes one percent of his/her basic monthly salary to the much taunted free education of Governor Okorocha.
Perhaps at this point, we shall invite the well know mathematician professor Chike Obi to come down to Imo state to assist us work out how much Imo state government get monthly from the large civil service workforce of Imo state including teachers.
However, many of these people who are contributing (paying) for these children do not have their children in these public schools evens as some don’t have any either in the private schools.
That is the irony of the whole thing. And yet nobody has bothered to inform Imolites that some people are actually paying for these students rather than deceive the masses into believing that government is picking the bills.
This is deceit and should be condemned by all well meaning citizens. In as much as we applaud the initiative, it is also important to inform the students that their kind and caring civil servants are paying their fees for them.
We believe that by so doing, the students will have more regard and respect for our civil servants in appreciation of this kind gesture.
This will also motivate them to be philanthropic in future in reciprocation of this rare gesture.
But to hide this truth from the public in pretence that Government is doing it all is deceitful, uncharitable and indeed satanic as it is done with bad intentions aimed at defrauding the people.
To say the least, it is high time that our pupils and students are made to understand that the so-called free education of Imo state Government is not free indeed because the civil servants are picking the bills.
Rather, we are bold to demand from Governor Okorocha to make public how much that the state government generate from this exercise monthly from our civil servants and its sum total since his assumption of office.
Pollution As Health Hazard
Pollution has gone a long way in not only causing unpleasant or unwanted noise but has affected the health conditions of many especially the younger ones.
I would like to draw the kind attention of the concerned authorities towards the increasing problems of pollution. It is causing great damage to the health of the society. It has led to irrigation, loss of sleep, rest and peace, bad odour, pour health and unpleasant environmental conditions.
Looking an the area of noise pollution it has being a big threat to the health and fitness of the people and if the noise pollution is allowed to go unchecked it may rob the people of their hearing capacity, increasing number of vehicles on the roads, rising growth of factories, construction work, loudspeakers used in various occasions, rock and pop music etc are the various factors responsible for causing noise pollution.
Water pollution is another big threat to the health, as it is gradually going a long way endangering the fitness of the people. Pollution has a very great effect on the water because most industries are needed materials that aid production. But it’s a pity that these industries fail to realize that by so doing they pollute the rivers that the people use to cook, bath and drink with oil and waste disposal etc.
Dumping of refuse, waste disposal& bins on the roads and streets also affect the health conditions of the people, as it causes awful odours, and breeds different kinds of pests. Disposal of waste in gutters are the major problem in our society now, as it is rampant every where.
The time has come when the authorities awake against the dangers of pollution in our society. They should strictly enforce the bodies which will be responsible for the control of these pollutions.
The water producing factories located in the residential areas should be shifted to far-off places as it not only pollutes the water but also causes noise too. The use of load-speaker should be stooped or mini missed after a specific time. Above all, the public needs to be aware and cooperative against the dangers of these pollution because without public cooperation authorities cannot make much difference.
It is earnestly hoped that concerned authorities will take immediate and urgent action against those responsible for the pollution causes as “Life is precious”.
