HON. MATTHIAS UMEH (Nwachi) is the member representing Umunneochi Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly. Recently, he spoke to our Editor, Rommy Imah in an exclusive interview where he outlined his achievements in his first year in the legislative house. He also spoke about the security situation in Umunneochi and what should be expected of him as a legislator in the next three years. Excerpts……
How would you describe your first year in office as a member representing Umunneochi State Constituency in the House of Assembly?
I can describe my one year in office as fruitful considering the expectations of the Umunneochi people from their employee in the Assembly.
Can you let us into some of the bills you have sponsored in the House and how these bills impact your constituents and Constituency?
In the first plenary session of the 8th assembly, I introduced a motion calling for a House resolution to mandate the state government to urgently address the issues of banditry and kidnapping in Umunneochi. This motion led to the formation of Operation Crush.
Following this, I presented a bill to establish ABIA CORPS, a unit designed to serve as forest guards and combat kidnappers. This bill is currently in the committee stage.
Additionally, I introduced a bill to establish the Abia State Foreign Assistance Agency to coordinate all foreign donors to the state, which has passed its first reading.
Another bill seeks to establish a commission for vocational and technical schools in Abia State, and it has also passed its first reading.
I have also put forward motions for the rehabilitation of Abia cashew in Mbala, improvements to roads in Umunneochi, and the relocation of the Umunneochi High Court back to Nkwoagu.
Furthermore, the rehabilitation of the Leru-Lomara-Ngodo-Nkwoagu road has been completed.
What kind of working relationship do you have with the Governor? And how has this relationship translated to the development of your Constituency?
My working relationship with the governor is best described as cordial. The governor has love and interest in the people of Umunneochi which he is transmitting through me and all the representatives of Umunneochi in the state government.
Talking about security, do you think that the Government has done enough in fighting insecurity in Umunneochi?
The present Abia State Government under Dr Alex Otti, has left no stone unturned to ensure adequate security in Umunneochi. There is no doubt about it, the evidence is there.
Let us know the areas you have intervened in bringing succour to the people, be it education, health, agriculture, palliative provisioning, etc.
In my direct interventions with my employers, am much aware that in this part of the world, people are yet to come to terms with the constitutional role of a legislator. Here, the majority of the people are not interested in how many bills and motions you sponsor in the assembly.
Being much aware of this, I’ve done much within my one year in office. These include the establishment of a four-year tuition-free education in my former school, Peace Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkwoagu; Payment of both senior and junior WAEC and NECO exam fees for all candidates in Seat of Wisdom Secondary School, Nkwoagu.
There is also the establishment of a four-year bursary scheme for select undergraduates of Umunneochi with 50 beneficiaries across the 12 wards of Umunneochi getting #50000 each for 2024.
The Ugwu Leru primary school building gutted by fire was rebuilt by the state government through my quick interventions; the majority of our teachers and other civil servants had their verification problems solved through my personal and physical interventions and representations to the state government.
In Agriculture, 18 candidates from Umunneochi participated in the recently concluded state-sponsored Agricultural Empowerment programme in Nasarawa state; 30 SME owners from Umunneochi benefited from the recently concluded Abia-Cares grants to the tune of between N400,000 and N1m each.
The official registration fee for the grants was N12,000 but while the state government subsidized N7,000, I settled the remaining N5,000.
Would you say Gov. Alex Otti has considered Umunneochi enough in the scheme of things in the State?
Gov Alex Otti as I said earlier, has considered Umunneochi not less than any other LGA in the state. He has taken the security of lives and property of Ndi Umunneochi more seriously than at least his predecessors.
He appointed sons and daughters of Umunneochi into key positions, including Chaka Chukwumerije, Commissioner for Lands and Housing; Dr. Oluebube Chukwu, Due Process; Dodo Okafor. Communications; Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Azodo, Health; Lady Mrs. Grace Ibe, House of Assembly Commission among others.
Moreover, Dr. Alex Otti is desperate to transform the Umuchieze Cattle Market into a standard international market. I don’t know what else to say.
What level of cooperation and collaboration do you enjoy from other Umunneochi sons and daughters in government and the House of Reps lawmaker representing our federal constituency? And in what areas are these collaborations visible?
I am happy to associate with these humble, and pragmatic leaders including the most prudent and articulate Mayor, Ndubuisi Ike with his deputy Augustine Njoku. Umunneochi will ever remain grateful to these selfless leaders for whatever success recorded by this administration in Umunneochi including security. I personally named them the G-8.
How well have you been relating with the grassroots to make them have a feel of your presence? Any town hall meetings with your constituents?
I’ve refused to live in Umuahia since after the inauguration of the House. I am always with my people to always feel their pulse. I hold meetings from time to time. All my bills and motions have the people’s input.
What should Umunneochi people expect from you at the end of your first tenure?
During my campaigns, I made a promise that my four years would compete favourably with the past 24 years of representation of Umunneochi in the House of Assembly.
Most importantly, apart from politics and campaign promises, I made a covenant with God and the people of Umunneochi. And that was to make sure that any fund released to me with the tag “Constituency fund” would be handled by a committee.
To celebrate one year in office, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti magnanimously released N10million to me for a project in Umunneochi no matter how small. I am delighted to announce that the committee was formed and that before the end of the month, a five-classroom block will be delivered in Nneato Secondary School.
