—— Says the autonomy of local governments in the state has enhanced effective service delivery and brought governance closer to the people at the grassroots.
The Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area and Deputy Chairman Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu State Chapter, Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, made this known while speaking on a topic “Igbo-Eze South LGA: Ending the Year with Disruptive, Renewed Hope and Progress Agenda” on Freedom Square, a programme on Solid FM, 100.9, anchored by Uchenna Cyril Anioke.
Barr. Ukwueze affirmed that local governments in Enugu State operate with full independence, stressing that their relationship with the state government is based strictly on partnership aimed at accelerating rural development.
He stated that the partnership with the Enugu State Government is not one of control but collaboration, designed to align local initiatives, with the broader development vision of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s administration.
According to him, “I am certain that the president, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he made that appeal to the forum of governors that he knew before that appeal, Enugu State had remained an exception if there were States where Local government authorities were not independent. Enugu State was one bold exception and the evidence is crystal clear that the blind can see it, the deaf can hear about it. In Enugu State we are enjoying three tiers of government. Number one is Federal Government, number two is State Government, number three is Local Government, that government at the residual level. We are efficiently independent of unconstitutional control, from any external influence. What we do in Enugu State intentionally is that Local Government go into mutual benefits arising from synergy because the territory called Enugu State contains seventeen Local Government Areas. So we are part of Enugu State. When we now look at what his excellency is doing for the people of Enugu State, domestically we factor in how we can affect our people peculiarly, so we go into synergy with the state government. The State Government has been very generous intentionally with any local government that wants to develop their area.”
Ukwueze noted that through this cooperative approach, local governments are better positioned to execute people-oriented projects in critical areas such as rural infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, and economic empowerment.
He further emphasized that the independence enjoyed by local councils has strengthened accountability, transparency, and responsiveness to the needs of rural dwellers, while the synergy with the state government ensures optimal utilization of resources.
He therefore reassured residents of Igbo-Eze South that his administration remains committed to sustaining people-centered governance, leveraging both local autonomy and strategic partnerships to drive sustainable development across communities.