Sadly, however, the
facility, like many things of government, is dying slowly; it has become a
symbol of neglect and lack of a maintenance culture. The building, originally
white, has become a ‘coat of many colours’, as a result of decay. And while
other Government House structures have undergone renovation (the old Lion
Building was pulled down and rebuilt last year), the canteen waits to fall
apart.
A visit to the canteen
leaves one wondering whether the state government really cares about the health
and welfare of the staff that patronize the place. Run by a private hand, it is
an eyesore, to say the least. The roof leaks. The chairs, tables and windows
are broken. Simply, the place yearns for urgent facelift. The facility, which
has a section for senior Government House staff, has broken floors with plants
growing on the wall. The louvres have turned brown, and only two of the four
ceiling fans in the general hall work.
No maintenance work has
been carried out on the building in the past nine years. Under former Governor
Chimaroke Nnamani’s administration, it was one of the first points of call for
staff and visitors to Government House. But things went sour for the place when
the last administration turned its back on it, apparently due to various food
vendors contracted to make supplies during activities at the Lion Building.
According to a source,
certain highly placed officials in government were comfortable patronizing
caterers outside Government House, and felt little concern about the staff and
their welfare. The implication was that several staff no longer use the
canteen, despite the low prices of food served there.
While speaking with
journalists, a staff of Enugu Government House said: “The
place is part of the deceit going on in the government of Enugu State. One
thing that might interest you is why nobody talks about the situation of the
canteen. You can imagine the condition of the place where human beings have to
eat. The problem is not with the caterer; it is neglect by the government. How
can they refurbish every other building without looking at what is happening at
the canteen?
“I stopped eating
there three years ago. It was not because the food is not good. The woman who
runs the place is doing well. The problem is with the nature of the building
and its environment. Cows reared in Government House defecate around the
surrounding, giving the premises an offensive odour. It is the same situation
with goats; people in the living quarters allow the animals to move around
freely. But for junior workers, how many of the senior staff patronize the
place? They have all run away because it stinks. We now have to move as far as
Presidential Road or even New Haven to find food, something we could easily
have done here, were the place convenient. The condition of that building is a
shame on Enugu government.”
The staff added that
several caterers brought in to run the canteen declined the offer when they saw
the state of the place. It was also gathered that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, during a tour of Government House,
expressed shock at the condition of the canteen. The Chief Press Secretary to
the governor, Uwakwe Abugu, who
acknowledged that the building was really in a “bad shape”, said the governor
wants to give the entire Government House a facelift.
He said: “Under four months, the governor has rebuilt the Protocol
Unit, which was an eyesore when he came to power. Work has advanced seriously
and is continuing everyday at the new Government House. The office of the
Deputy Governor is being reconstructed, among others. The Government House
canteen is one of the buildings that needs attention and we agree that it is
dilapidated.
“My assurance to
you is that the governor is aware and is working very hard to ensure that
Government House wears a new look in the near future. People should not just
look at the ones that have not been done but also at what have been done, so
far. This government will not shy away from any challenge, especially the one
that affects the overall interests of the people.” (guardian)
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