The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has unveiled a proposed welfare package for civil servants and teachers ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Odii made the proposals during a meeting with representatives of Ebonyi civil servants and members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, at his residence in Lagos.
A major component of his proposed agenda is a workers’ housing scheme, through which he pledged to provide 1,000 housing units within his first year in office and up to 5,000 units within four years, if elected governor.
Odii said the scheme would be structured to minimise direct funding from the state government, with contributions and existing pension assets potentially providing part of the financing.
He said the initiative was aimed at addressing housing challenges faced by workers, particularly after retirement.
The PDP candidate also proposed a digital, paperless platform that would allow civil servants to access loans based on their contributory pension savings.
According to him, the proposed system would eliminate cumbersome paperwork and allow eligible workers to apply for loans electronically.
On retirement benefits, Odii promised reforms aimed at ensuring workers can access their entitlements immediately after retirement.
He also proposed the introduction of computer-based testing for civil service promotions, with instant results, as part of measures to improve transparency and reduce manipulation in the promotion process.
In the education sector, Odii unveiled plans for a “Smart School Initiative” that would combine academic instruction with practical and vocational skills.
He also proposed the revival of boarding schools and additional welfare incentives for teachers, including staff quarters and access to car loans.
The governorship candidate further proposed the establishment of owner-occupier farm estates across the state’s local government areas and development centres, saying the initiative would encourage agricultural productivity among public workers.
Odii also criticised what he described as poor project completion and resource management in the state, promising a different approach if elected.
He pledged to forgo his official salary throughout his first four-year term if elected governor, saying he would not take a salary until he completed his proposed programmes.
The proposals form part of Odii’s broader campaign agenda ahead of the 2027 Ebonyi State governorship election, with the candidate positioning workers’ welfare, education, housing, pension reform and agriculture as key areas of his proposed administration.
