The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has unveiled a welfare package for civil servants and teachers ahead of the 2027 governorship election, promising to restore the state’s public service to what he described as its “past glorious days.”
Odii announced the proposals during a meeting with representatives of Ebonyi civil servants and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at his residence in Lagos.
A major part of his plan is a worker housing scheme designed to address the housing difficulties faced by civil servants after retirement. Odii promised to build 1,000 housing units within his first year and increase the number to as many as 5,000 units within four years if elected governor.
He said the scheme would not depend directly on state government funding, but would instead utilise structured contributions and existing pension assets.
Odii also proposed a digital, paperless loan platform that would allow civil servants to access loans against their contributory pension funds without going through lengthy paperwork.
On retirement benefits, the PDP candidate promised that workers would have immediate access to their entitlements upon retirement.
He also proposed introducing computer-based promotion examinations for civil servants, with instant results, as part of efforts to improve transparency and reduce manipulation in the promotion process.
For the education sector, Odii unveiled plans for a “smart-school initiative” that would combine academic education with practical skills. He also promised to revive boarding schools and introduce additional welfare incentives for teachers, including staff quarters and car loans.
The PDP candidate further proposed establishing owner-occupier farm estates across Ebonyi’s local government areas and development centres to encourage agricultural productivity among public workers.
Odii criticised the management of state resources and the pace of government projects, promising a different approach if elected.
In a major pledge, he said he would not collect his governor’s salary throughout his first four-year term until he had completed his intended projects.
The proposals form part of Odii’s campaign agenda as the PDP prepares to challenge the ruling party in Ebonyi in the 2027 governorship election.
