Chinedu Atuenyi, Public Affairs Analyst
Governor Peter Mbah’s administration in Enugu State has been marked by controversy and concerns over transparency and accountability. Since taking office on May 29, 2023, the state government has received substantial funds, including N923 billion in federal allocations and N384.5 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR), totaling over N1.4 trillion. However, the impact of these funds on the state’s development and welfare of its citizens is a subject of debate although those who are not well-informed take a contrary position.
For instance, despite spending over N384 billion on education, the state government has been accused of fraudulent award of Smart School contracts, with allegations of over 80% of the funds ending up in the pockets of friends and fronts of the administration. On water revamping, the state government has spent over N53 billion on water revamping projects, yet the state water problem persists. In agriculture, approximately N114 billion was spent with most of the money allegedly ending up in the pockets of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with little or no information on the people behind them. Also, over N85 billion purportedly spent on health, yet the state lacks a single standard public health facility, and in security, over N30 billion has been spent but the effectiveness of these expenditures is questionable – the list goes on.
In all of this, the Enugu State government has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability in managing public funds. The acquisition of 30,000 hectares of land for agricultural purposes, accounting for over 4% of the state’s total land mass, has raised concerns about the government’s priorities and motives.
Citizens of Enugu State must demand accountability and transparency from their government. It is essential to scrutinize the government’s spending and ensure that public funds are utilized for the benefit of all citizens, not just a select few.
In conclusion, the performance of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration in Enugu State must be placed side-by-side with the humongous funds received and realized through the excruciating taxing of the ordinary Ndi Enugu. His actions raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and the effective utilization of public funds. Hence, citizens must hold their government accountable and demand better governance.
