Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has disclosed that his administration has saved over N1.5 billion by drastically reducing the monthly office cleaning bill from N137 million to N11 million. He described the move as a hallmark of ethical leadership and prudent management of public resources.
Speaking at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka during a convocation lecture titled Ethical Leadership, Security, and Sustainable Development, the governor recalled that upon assumption of office, he was alarmed to discover a monthly cleaning cost of N137 million. After a thorough review by a committee, the amount was initially cut to N70 million, and later to N30 million. Still dissatisfied, Soludo pushed further, calculating that employing 200 people on minimum wage and adding the cost of cleaning materials would not exceed N11 million monthly.
The governor stated that the cost-cutting measure, which now saves the state N126 million every month, is part of a broader strategy to instill transparency and fiscal discipline in government operations.
Turning to the issue of security, Soludo decried the rise of deceptive get-rich-quick schemes allegedly promoted by some native doctors, which he said have misled young men into crime. According to him, his administration has begun cracking down on such practices. Several of the alleged perpetrators have been arrested and are in custody, while others have fled. He emphasized that the government supports traditional religion and culture but warned that abuse of rituals and public spaces would no longer be tolerated.
Using the Igbo proverb “Aka aja aja na-ebute onu mmanu mmanu”, meaning there is no reward without labor, Soludo stressed the importance of hard work and warned those defacing public roads and waterways with ritual activities of dire consequences.
He recounted the grim security challenges Anambra faced at the start of his tenure, with eight local government areas under siege. The situation was so dire that some parts of the state were inaccessible during the campaign period, including the area where Labour Party governorship aspirant, Obiora Agbasimalo, was kidnapped and has not been seen since.
Soludo, however, declared that the tide has turned. “Have you heard of ‘Oso Soludo’? It is real, and they are on the run,” he said, referring to his administration’s sweeping security operations. He reaffirmed his commitment to transforming Anambra from a transit zone into a destination where people live, work, and thrive.
Highlighting infrastructure development, the governor announced the end of the state’s 34-year wait for a befitting government house. Previously operating from temporary facilities, Anambra now boasts a new complex that includes the Governor’s Lodge, Presidential Lodge, Deputy Governor’s Office, hospital, and other key facilities. He described the new government house as arguably the best in the country and affirmed his administration’s vision of creating a progressive, innovative, and livable Anambra, including the ongoing construction of a local Silicon Valley.
