When last year Enugu people united to enthrone Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to steer the mantle of governance for a first period of four years following his blistering popularity at the poll, a lot of expectations obviously rested on his shoulders.
A prepared Ugwuanyi had during his inaugural address at the Michael Okpara Square on May 29, assured the tumultuous crowd of his administration’s resolve to roll its sleeves in order to meet the burgeoning yearnings of the people especially now that the nation’s mono-cultural economy is buffeted by crude oil glut at the global scene while grappling with insecurity challenges at the home front.
Matching words with action, Ugwuanyi’s managerial dexterity was put to test when stakeholders, observers and the entire people of the state who were waiting in the wings to witness an epic showdown with his predecessors in office, got the rough end of the stick, as he quietly settled down for the business of governance.
A copious peep at the Governor’s principles of governance showed that he operates a government of consultation such that every segment of the stakeholders are carried along in all decisions affecting the people. Saturday Vanguard learned that this strategy is to weed out possible bickering which usually snowballs into political warfare. Such situation equally breeds anarchy, smolders scarce resources which would have been deployed to meaningful ventures that will better the lots of the people.
Ugwuanyi, a man of peace
The Governor’s mien, carriage and comportment one year in office have radiated an olive branch to the cleavages dotting the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, culminating in the unification of the fragmented party. Until now, political heavyweights in the state rived personal cracks on the walls which threatened its dominance in the state in the days leading to the last general elections.
Rather than melt the mettle, Ugwuanyi’s humane disposition which could be likened to that of a Vatican Bishop who remains unprovoked when bile regurgitates in times of frayed nerves, came handy as a soothing balm that unified the party. This disposition, cutting across party lines, prompted strident calls in various quarters for higher leadership roles come 2023.
Seen by most Igbo as a rallying point, the prevailing peace in Enugu State has endeared the Governor to the innermost recesses of the people’s hearts which has provided a veritable platform for the socio-economic development currently being witnessed in the state. Ugwuanyi’s leadership steps resonate across the South-East geopolitical zone as is evident in the reinvention of the Neighborhood Watch Groups to complement the efforts of security agencies in the wake of last April Fulani herdsmen invasion of Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (LGA) which other sister states are emulating.
Working relationship with first female Deputy Governor
Governor Ugwuanyi’s peaceful stance robs off on all spheres culminating in the robust working relationship prevailing between him and the Deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeillo, first female Deputy Governor of the state. Ezeillo, Saturday Vanguard gathered, has been a supportive pillar who brings motherly touch to governance that accounts for the ease with which the wheels of governance throngs to the fulfillment of government promises to the people.
Payment of workers’ salaries
Ugwuanyi has sustained in the past one year, the payment of workers’ salaries on the 25th of every month. The N4.207b Federal Government bail-out funds received by the state meant for the payment of arrears salaries and pensions of some public servants owed by the previous administration is currently being disbursed and supervised by a joint committee comprising of representatives of organised labour, government and pensioners.
Also, the welfare of workers has received the Governor’s attention as work has reached advanced stages at the Workers’ Estate at Ogbeke. The government has paid 30 percent equity contribution to enable interested Enugu State civil servants from Grade Level 01 to Grade Level 10, to acquire 100 units of one-bedroom flats at Elim Estate, Ibagwa, Nike, Enugu. The beneficiaries of this scheme have since been selected through an open lottery system held recently at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Local government administration
Following the expiration on January 4, 2016 of the tenure of 17 Local Government Council chairmen, Ugwuanyi had summoned a stakeholders’ meeting where he consulted with them saying, “Recall that the State Caucus had in its last meeting at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Enugu, agreed that all activities towards the local government elections be put on hold to enable the committee handling the on-going local government staff audit and other reforms conclude its assignment.”
Stakeholders approve caretaker committees
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Enugu-West Senatorial District; Prof. Barth Nnaji, Enugu-East; and Chief Nnia Nwodo, Enugu-North all led other stakeholders from the three districts to approve the setting up of a caretaker committee. The 17 Caretaker Committees are in place as approved by the stakeholders.
Security
The state government donated 17 Hilux trucks to the police and other security agencies in the past year to support their efforts apart from other logistics provided by the Governor. The Governor has doled out N100 million to the Neighborhood Watch Groups in the 472 communities in the state to serve as vigilante and complement the efforts of security agencies.
Urban, rural developement
In fulfillment of the promise to catalyse urban and rural development and develop new cities in the state to boost economic activities, the government embarked on the massive development of roads across the state.
The government flagged off the construction of major roads across the state. These were the Ameke Ngwo-Nsude Junction Bypass, Ninth Mile Corner Bypass, Dualisation of Opi-Nsukka Road, Abakpa Nike Road, Nike Lake Road, Ohom Orba Junction, Imilike Ani-Ezimo, Uno-Ezimo, Agu-Imilike-Ogbudu, Aba-Obollo-Etiti, Amalla-Obollo Afor, Udenu Ring Road, Enugu Road Junction, Umuezebi-Nru Junction, University Gate, Nsukka; Post Office Roundabout, Odenigbo Roundabout, Ogurugu Road, Ikenga Hotel Junction, Obechara Road Junction, Umuakashi Mechanic Village, Ikenga Hotel Junction.
Some of the roads like the Abakpa Nike Road, Nike Lake Road have been completed while others have gone beyond 70% completion. Ugwuanyi’s government, in this one year, has also completed the hitherto intractable Ogbete Market and gone far with the rehabilitation of the Airport Roundabout-Orie Emene-St. Patrick’s College-Eke Obinagu Road Project, Mbanefo II, New Haven. It also directed the continuous maintenance of the roads in Enugu.
Agriculture
As part of rural and agricultural development initiatives, the government of Ugwuanyi initiated the construction of a 15-kilometre Inter-Town Connection, ITC, 2.5MVA Injection Sub-Station at Ezi-Nze, Udi LGA just a few days after assumption of office. This initiative will supply electricity to communities in Udi, Igbo-Etiti, and Uzo-Uwani LGAs. It will also activate businesses in these rural communities and power the Adada Dam Project as well as the Greater Nsukka Water Scheme.
Twenty tractors to be hired to genuine farmers at very low rates were procured by government. The release of counterpart funds for the robust participation of the state in the implementation of the N2 billion Staple Crops Processing Zone, SCPZ, programme by the African Development Bank in conjunction with the Federal Government of Nigeria was approved during this one year.
Health
The health sector is already receiving a breath of fresh air as the state government has, among other things, continued to sustain the well acclaimed Free Maternal Health and Child Care Programme while ensuring the proper equipment and staffing of existing health institutions in the state. The government also is on the verge of completing the ultra-modern medical diagnostic centre in Enugu and has initiated the construction of three new Specialist Hospitals in the three Senatorial Zones of the state with the flag off of the scheme at Orba, Udenu LGA.
Discipline
The Child Rights Act is now before the House as an executive bill and in collaboration with the UNICEF, the Ugwuanyi government has carried out sensitization activities to ensure its successful passage. In response to the persistent complaints of the people, the state government took concrete steps to end touting, illegal collection of fees and undue harassment and intimidation of citizens by unscrupulous persons and others purporting to be working for government agencies in Enugu State.
Internally generated revenue
To standardize, streamline and shore up the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, the state government has set up a team to design a blueprint for the collection of revenue which is believed to help eliminate corruption and illegal collections. It is equally working on the promulgation of a Property Tax Law and other revenue related laws that will regulate revenue collection in the state.
It is confirmed that some banks and other organizations have been interviewed with regard to this matter and very soon, the state government is to announce the institution that will drive IGR enhancement activities. Investigation revealed that the government equally has plans to reorganize the system of Land Allocation and related matters in order to plug the loopholes and leakages that have been observed in the process. The bottlenecks militating against the take off of the Enugu State Industrial Park has been removed in partnership with Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and the DFID.
Employment
In line with the polices on human development, youth empowerment and poverty alleviation, the state government recently appointed 600 Executive Assistants and is on the verge of making other major appointments and reconstituting boards for parastatals in the state. – Vanguard.
