“I’m a Welfarist. And We Believe In Government That Cares. Government That Works For Everyone”, PDP Guber Candidate, Kelechi Anosike

The PDP Governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr Kelechi Anosike has once again renewed his vow to pay N90,000 minimum wage if elected as the governor of Abia State, saying his policies would be formulated with human consideration.

Anosike made the pledge on Thursday in Umuahia during an interactive session with journalists at the PDP state Secretriate.

“So when I say the people first, their welfare matters to me. When I say that it’s a government that cares for everyone, I mean it.”

“When I say that it’s a government that works for everyone, I just mean it. So when I say I will review the salary structure, I say total overhauling, review of the entire salary structure of Abia State, both local government, both judiciary, both civil service, is exactly what I will do.”

“When we say we’ll set up a civil service college, first of its kind, they have it in Abuja, civil service college, an executive land, that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

“I can’t even say all. There’s a lot we’ll do. But a certain point is, we’ll start off with 90,000 minimum wage applied across board. 90,000 minimum wage. And it is doable.”

The 2027 hopeful further reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Abia civil servants if elected into power in 2027, pledging to implement payment of all entitlements to every worker, including promotion and leave allowances.

“I’m a welfarist. That is what is different. I believe in the welfare of everyone.”

“I will not want anyone, no one around me suffers. I don’t take what belongs to anyone. And that’s why we’ve developed a welfarist philosophy.”

“And as a welfarist, we believe every laborer is entitled to his wages. So, you owe no man, nothing except to love. So if the book says there should be a promotion allowance and it’s been enshrined and established, when I promote you from level 12 to 13, that allowance should follow you.”

“If the rule says if you apply for your annual leave, you should have a leave allowance. When you apply for annual leave, that allowance should be available for you because you are entitled to it. If the rule says that if you’ve served 35 years, you retire, or if you’ve served 60 years, you retire.”

“If you’re not up to 60 years and you have not served 35 years, I won’t retire you.”

“Dr Anosike regretted what he described as unjust retirement of 10,000 civil servants by the current government in the state, saying he would review their situation and if possible, reabsorb them into the civil service with all their entitlements paid.”

“Because I have 10,000 civil servants, who were are retired by this government.”

“A welfarist will not do it for no reason, no just cause. A welfarist will think that you are playing against the rule. They are not up to 60 years.”

“They’ve not worked 35 years. So why retire them? Why retrench them? That didn’t benefit. That’s what is different.”

“I’m a welfarist. And we believe that it’s a government that cares. Government that works for everyone.”

“It’s a government that works for everyone. So we make policy with human consideration. We humanize policies.”