A former House of Representatives member for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency at the National Assembly, Sam Onuigbo, has urged state governors and council chairmen to manage their statutory allocations prudently.
Onuigbo spoke after receiving an award during the South East Zonal Summit of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), and a visit of the institute’s president and chairman of council, Abimbola Ayuba (Rtd.), to Abia State, in Umuahia, the capital.
He explained that statutory allocations accruing to the states and their local governments since the removal of the oil subsidy have tripled compared to what they previously received.
The two-time member of the National Assembly made it clear that, with the quantum of allocations, the people they are leading should enjoy better lives that reflect the president’s magnanimity.
The representative of the South-East on the Board of North East Development Commission noted, “All we have to ask for is a lot of transparency on the side of those who are in leadership.”
”The governors are getting more than three times what they got when I was the state’s commissioner for Finance. The local governments also earn money after the removal of the subsidy.
“They should be transparent and make sure that they support President Bola Tinubu in trying to move the economy in the direction the president is driving it.”
He encouraged young Nigerians to join the institute and other professional bodies, prepare themselves for technological advancements and the threat of artificial intelligence, and remain relevant in society.
The 2015 to 2023 representative expressed appreciation to the institute’s South East zone and the national for bestowing him with the award and promised more support for the foremost professional body.
In an address of welcome, Abimbola described the summit’s theme, “Navigating Nigeria’s Economic Environment to achieve sustainable Corporate and Household Economic Growth,” as appropriate.
Ayuba charged all, especially those who wish to remain relevant in the evolving society, to retool themselves with updated management skills to remain relevant even in the face of artificial intelligence.
He noted that the summit’s essence is to engage the members and the public in discussing the impact of Artificial Intelligence, Python, and Robotics and to expose them to its advantages and legal principles.
”This is as well as limitations to adequately prepare them ahead of time on its proper deployment and not dwelling on the fear that it is going to take over human roles,” the president added.
Contributing, the zonal chairman and former vice chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Jude Njoku, described the summit as an opportunity to examine the country’s economic growth challenges.
He said it would afford them a forum to advise the government on the right steps. He assured them that domesticating artificial intelligence would not take over the role of humans in every sector.
In a presentation, the keynote speaker and managing director/CEO of Cowrey Asset Management Limited, Lagos, Johnson Chukwu, described Artificial Intelligence as data-driven and harped on the need for a harmonised central data system in the country.
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