Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Friday presented keys of 100 housing units of one bedroom apartment to 100 civil servants who won the houses through lottery.
Ugwuanyi, who presented the keys to the winners at Elim Estate, Ugwogo, in Enugu East LGA, said the gesture was part of his commitment to improve the welfare of civil servants in the state.
He said: “this is a very auspicious and historic occasion. We are here to celebrate the goodness of the Lord to the people of Enugu State.
“You will recall that on Sept. 29, 2015, we took the unprecedented step of conducting open lottery for civil servants from grade levels 1-10, in respect of 100 units of one bedroom apartments at this estate.
“One hundred lucky civil servants thereafter, emerged winners of the lottery.
“Having paid the over 30 per cent equity contribution that we promised to each of them, we are here today to formally hand over to them, the keys to their apartments.
“This event is in accordance with our promise to deploy government resources and services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen.’’
While congratulating the beneficiaries, Ugwuanyi commended the leaders of organised labour in the state for cooperating with his administration in the past year, especially in the face of the current economic difficulty.
“We want to reassure you that we will continue to work within our means to address issues affecting the welfare of workers and to ensure that industrial peace continues to reign in Enugu State,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Housing, Mr Charles Asogwa, commended the governor for providing affordable housing units for civil servants in the state.
He said that this was the first time the state government acquired housing units for the lowest cadre of civil servants.
Asogwa urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture through hard work, dedication and commitment to duty.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Nwaka Ugwu, thanked the governor for “wiping tears from my eyes’’ through the fulfillment of his campaign promises.
Another beneficiary, Mr Peter Odo, a driver on grade level 3 said, “we have seen a governor who likes ordinary people from his heart; God will continue to bless him and his administration.
“He has done for us what nobody will have agreed to do for us.
“Who would have given me a house; a flat as my own in Enugu capital here?” he said. (NAN)