By Wilfred Eya
For those following events in Enugu since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, the state governor, Dr Peter Mbah is not smiling.
Governance for him is a serious business and there is no time for frivolities. The result is that the Coal city state under him is witnessing a paradigm shift in governance and an unprecedented revolution in infrastructural development.
Trying to reset the minds of the people is one of the intangibles of his government. The governor is determined to inculcate a culture of discipline in both the politicians and entire people of the state. He has literally ended the era of courtesy calls from cheerleaders and sycophants who hitherto, milled around the Lion Building for pecuniary interests. But like every reformer, some people see him as harsh or indifferent to the plight of the masses. However, critical observers see his policies as enduring legacies that would substantially benefit the state at the long run.
When he talked about disruptive innovation during his campaign for the Lion Building, many people did not believe him. One of the catchphrases of his governorship campaign was, ‘Tomorrow is Here’. He had promised not to be the regular Nigerian politician as his style was going to be a kind of ‘Politics Unusual.’
In his inaugural speech, he committed to the people of Enugu State and his first assignment as governor was to sign an Executive Order, called the ‘Citizens’ Charter’ which demands that he manages the people’s money, in the people’s interest.
This Charter holds him and members of his team to account for the state’s funds and mandates him and his team to provide detailed information on public financial management.
One of his standout promises was to grow the state’s economy from $4 billion to $30 billion and he assured that the growth would be driven by the private sector but enabled by government. That sounded preposterous and many commentators dismissed him, believing his posture was a mere strategy to win the tension-soaked Enugu governorship election.
Political observers had doubts over Governor Mbah’s sincerity considering the culture of unrealistic promises from politicians to the unsuspecting Nigerian electorate.
But in Enugu State today, there is a major shift from the status quo as the governor is religiously working to fulfil his campaign promises to the people. The state government is aggressively addressing all the sectors in the state’s economy from infrastructure to health, education, tourism, agriculture, security among others.
Currently, the reconstruction of old roads and construction of new ones are ongoing with the health sector wearing a new look even as rural transformation seems to be taking the lead in the scheme of projects. Every rural community in Enugu State has a share of either an ongoing construction of a Smart School or modern health centre.
The schools in the state have recruited more than 10 thousand workers since the administration assumed office and Smart teachers for the 260 smart schools in the state has taken up a large chunk of that. Incentives are created and soft loans are granted to those going into agriculture, including small holder farmers
Critical observers believe there is an obvious desire of the Mbah government to recreate rural areas and make them more of semi-urban areas. One of the outstanding characteristics of his administration is its determination to connect all the local areas in the state and make it look like a smart city.
Mbah’s administration, in keeping with these dreams, has constructed and commissioned over 80 roads spread across the state with hundreds of roads awarded in less than two years in office.
Governor Mbah has been relentless in his drive for business, investment, and developmental partnerships, which have been followed by speedy drafting of transaction documentation and closing of numerous deals in record time. The state government has signed and is implementing hundreds of agreements and memorandum of understanding geared towards the development of all sectors and sections of the state.
In a bold move to raise funds for the budget, Mbah introduced the unified e-ticketing scheme to curb loopholes in revenue generation in the state. This has seen the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) jump from N2 billion to over N4.3 billion in 2023 and has now soared to N10 billion in 2024.
Many people including his critics are surprised that work is going on at every nook and cranny of the state, in the city and rural areas with Enugu literally turning to a construction site.
When Governor Mbah, promised to end perennial water scarcity within 180 days of being sworn-in, those who knew the history of Enugu with regards to scarcity of water laughed it off. Today, many are surprised how the state government was able to restore water to Enugu metropolis as promised during the campaigns.
From inception, it was not in doubt that the governor had set for himself another lofty baseline in the area of provision of critical infrastructure and social amenities.
In his assessment, former member, House of Representatives, USA Igwesi described developments in Enugu as the audacity of governance. He wondered how the governor has excelled in infrastructural development despite the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s economy.
Igwesi said the governor has shown capacity and competence in piloting the affairs of the state.
The founder of Peter Mbah Grassroots Canvassers, said the governor is not the typical Nigerian politician that makes promises without bothering about fulfilling them.
His words: “it is obvious that whatever he promised Enugu people during the campaigns, he will surely fulfill and even more.
“One thing I know about the governor is that he does not make empty promises. The most typical example is his promise that public water would run in Enugu within his 180 days in office. So many people who knew the history of Enugu and the challenges of water scarcity were laughing at him saying the governor was making a promise that was impossible to fulfill within the time frame. But we all saw what happened. The issue of water is one of the most practical examples of where the state is heading. to.
“In his inaugural speech, Governor Mbah was emphatic that he would transform Enugu into a beautiful symphony of development”.
Igwesi said even Governor Mbah’s critics would agree that he is religiously fulfilling his campaign promises to the people of Enugu State and has surpassed the expectations of even naysayers.
One of the initial sectors that Mbah’s government tackled was that of justice because in the belief of the state government, without a viable legal framework, businesses would not thrive, as investors would lack the necessary confidence to invest. Such a development in the thinking of the government could hinder the state’s vision of exponentially growing the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion. So, the significant achievement of the governor in the justice sector was first of all to lay the groundwork for sustainable growth.
The state government has facilitated and presented over 18 groundbreaking bills to the House of Assembly, out of which 15 have been passed into law and the proactive legislative agenda underscores the governor’s commitment to enhancing legal frameworks and promoting good governance within the state. The passage of the bills represents a significant milestone in ensuring that Enugu State’s legal and administrative structures are robust, responsive, and reflective of contemporary needs. Other executive bills geared towards reform and development include:
The Enugu State Electricity Law, 2023
The Enugu State Geographic Information Systems Service Law, 2024
The New Enugu City Management Agency Law, 2024
The State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital Igbo-Eno Law, 2024
The Enugu State Properties Protection Law, 2024
The Public Ranch Management Agency Law, 2024
The Enugu State Environmental and Climate Protection Law, 2024
The Enugu State Sports Development Fund Law, 2024
The Neighbourhood Association and Watch Group Law, 2024
.And the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences Parklane and Awgu Bill, 2024.
In addition to these new laws, five forward-looking executive orders have been promulgated, which provide the necessary legal backing for various government policies and initiatives. By issuing these executive orders, Governor Mbah demonstrated an adept understanding of governance nuances and the importance of swift, decisive action in addressing the state’s developmental challenges. The executive orders have laid the groundwork for several key initiatives, enabling the government to respond promptly to emerging issues and ensuring that the state’s machinery operates smoothly.
This technological transformation is a testament to Governor Mbah’s vision of a modern, efficient, and transparent judicial system.
In line with his manifesto, the governor laid the groundwork for the creation of specialized courts for unimpeded access to justice for all. These Courts will be presided over by experts in the specialized areas, to optimize the quality of the determination of issues, the speed of dispensation, and the wholesomeness of outcomes.
The reactivation of the Citizen’s Rights and Mediation Center (CRMC) forums in the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State stands out as a people-centric achievement. These centers play a critical role in alternative dispute resolution, offering a platform for resolving conflicts amicably without the need for protracted court cases. This is particularly important to the rural populace, who will be largely without remedy if costly litigation is the only available resolution. By revitalizing these centers, the governor has alleviated the burden on the judicial system and promoted a culture of peace and dialogue among the residents. The CRMC Forums/Centers now serve as vital hubs for community engagement, where disputes are resolved swiftly and equitably, fostering social harmony.
The digitalization, digitization, and automation of the justice sector have been prioritized in an effort to modernize the state’s judicial processes. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency, reduce case backlogs, and improve overall access to justice. By leveraging technology, the administration is streamlining various judicial processes and making it easier for citizens to access legal services and information. The automation of the judiciary ensures that cases are processed faster, records are kept more accurately, and judicial officers can perform their duties more effectively.