The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has pledged to donate his salary and allowances to widows across the state if elected governor in the 2027 general elections.
Lulu-Briggs made the pledge on Monday during a media chat in Buguma, his country home in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, where he unveiled his development blueprint, tagged “Reset Rivers State.”
The NDC candidate said his administration would be anchored on transparency, accountability and selflessness, with a strong focus on creating opportunities for young people to pursue their aspirations.
According to him, his decision to forgo his official remuneration was inspired by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, whom he described as his principal.
“When we have the opportunity to manage government resources, I can promise Rivers people that their every penny will be accounted for.
“I’m sure I’m going to be like my principal, campaigning for President, Peter Obi. I will not even be asking for any salary. Every month, any salary will go into assisting one widow or the other,” he said.
Lulu-Briggs also said he would not depend on government funds after leaving office, stressing that his businesses would continue to provide for him.
“The way we have gone, there will be no need to even pension me because I’m sure that my businesses will still be running,” he stated.
He said the proposed sacrifice was intended to restore public confidence in government and demonstrate that political office should be regarded as an avenue for service rather than personal enrichment.
The candidate lamented what he described as a widening trust deficit between Rivers residents and successive administrations, promising to rebuild confidence in government if elected.
“People need to begin to have faith in their government again. The trust deficit between the ruled and the rulership is frightening,” he said.
Lulu-Briggs said his proposed “Reset Rivers State” agenda would focus on the economy, governance, politics and access to opportunities, with the aim of ensuring that citizens would no longer need political connections to benefit from government programmes.
“Just give us your support, give us your prayers. Let’s navigate these mucky waters of Rivers politics and we reset Rivers State,” he said.
He added that his administration would invest heavily in young people, whom he described as the strength of society, while shifting attention from merely exploiting the state’s natural resources to developing its human capital.
“We will not be defined by the things that God has blessed us with only, but by the innovative things that we are able to create,” he said.
On governance, the NDC candidate promised to reform the state civil service, which he described as the engine of government.
He attributed the weakening of the civil service to what he described as the concentration of contracts and government activities at the Government House, saying his administration would strengthen ministries and restore their effectiveness.
Lulu-Briggs also pledged major investment in healthcare, particularly through the rehabilitation and activation of primary healthcare centres across Rivers State.
He promised to recruit more doctors and provide incentives, including accommodation and inconvenience allowances, to encourage medical professionals to work in rural communities.
“If I have a doctor work in a primary health centre in Buguma or Abonema or anywhere in the state, for instance, the doctor will have the reason to want to go there to work.
“Indeed, we might make it attractive in such a way that you might find it more attractive to go and work in the rural areas than to stay in Port Harcourt,” he stated.
While acknowledging the roles of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Lulu-Briggs said more investment was needed to improve patient care and strengthen the state’s nursing workforce.
He maintained that his ultimate goal was to restore public trust, expand opportunities and ensure that Rivers State’s natural resources translated into better living conditions for its people.
