The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, has inaugurated a 10-man committee to review the state laws.

Addressing the committee members at Government House, Abakaliki, Engr. Umahi noted that the committee became necessary because some laws existing in the state were obsolete and duplicated; adding that there was need to review and arrange them in a book. "I've been confronted with a lot of laws that were made. Some of them we don't know they are in existence. Some of them have become so obsolete and so there is a need to bring all the laws from the foundation of this state and know which ones are obsolete. Which one has been duplicated.

Which one has been forgotten and bring them under one book."

He charged them to look at the proposal for the new Electoral Act before the national assembly and amend the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission law in line with it to be presented to the State House of Assembly.

“We have to also look at the new electoral act that national assembly are passing and it will be good if we also amend the EBSIEC law. So this review is like making proposal to the House of Assembly,” Umahi said.

The Governor also inaugurated the State Pension Management Board and the Local Government Management Board during which he charged them to liaise with the organised labour and amend the contributory pension law that would be acceptable to Government and workers.

He explained that the contributory pension law in the state has some typographical errors which were noticed after its passage into law and requires amendment. “In the law we passed; very beautiful law because we brought that of Anambra State, we brought that of Enugu State. We put the three together and so we had to now come up with our own but while they were typing it, we accept the blames after it was passed in the House of Assembly. They started where they should put Ebonyi they were putting Federal Government. So we've noticed it and there is the need to amend the law,” he said.

He maintained that there would be no provision for disparity in the salaries and allowances of the State and Local Government workers in the proposed amendment.

The state Chief Executive pointed out that the setting up of the two Boards was a relief to him as every negotiation with the organised labour and matters relating to pensions would be handled by them emphasising that civil servants are members of the two Boards. “But one thing that is very important is, in that law, we must make it mandatory that there will be no disparity of salaries, of gratuities and of pensions between Local Government and state workers”. “I’m very excited with these two Boards now and you ask me the source of my excitement. It’s because burden has been lifted. All my negotiations with labour will now be done by these Boards and the good thing is that some of the executives and the civil servants are all members of the two Boards,” the Governor said.

Earlier, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu, said that the law review committee would update the Ebonyi State laws while the State and Local Government Boards would manage the deductions from workers’ salaries.

Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman of the Law Review Committee, Justice Elvis Ngene, and the Head of Service who is the Chairman, Ebonyi State Pension Management Board, Dr. Chamberlain Nwele, as well as the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission who is also the Chairman of Local Government Pension Management Board, Mrs. Lilian Nwankwo, appreciated the Governor for the opportunity given to them to serve in their various capacities and assured that they would work assiduously to deliver in their mandate.

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