Mixed reactions over impact of LG administrations in Enugu

Residents in Enugu state have countered themselves on the impact of local government administrations in the state.

While a former Dean faculty of Law in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Prof. Agu Gab Agu, said that the people of Enugu north local government area have been feeling the impact of good governance from the council administration, a former Chairman of Nkanu west local government area, Barrister Ray Nnaji said otherwise.

Agu said that roads among other social amenities were being provided by the local government administration in the council area under the leadership of Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, but said that he may not be able to ascertain what happens in other council areas of the state.

“In Enugu north, there are some impacts being made such as roads that are being constructed but I may not be able to discuss generally. However, a lot need to be done generally because from what I hear about other places, not much is being done and if you look at the council chairmen, most of them are not even residents in the areas. They move around the city centers,” Agu said.

In his account, Ray Nnaji alleged that the problem of the local government councils in Enugu state lies with the economic strangulation of the councils by the state government.

According to Nnaji, the highly celebrated increased federal allocation to the councils only exist on the papers, saying that he doubts if the councils have started receiving their allocations directly the way they are supposed to receive.

“If they are getting their money directly, that impact has not been felt. I don’t think so because it has no reflection with the welfare of the people. I don’t believe that the state government has allowed them to have their funds directly and if they have their funds directly, have they been making use of it for the benefit of the people, the answer is no,” Nnaji said.

However, the Chairman of Isi-Uzo local government council, Hon Obiora Obeagu said he can beat his chest to acclaim that the people in the rural communities of his council have been feeling the impact of the local government administration.

Obeagu cited the human empowerment initiatives of the council, the asphalting of roads with concrete bridge across Ebenyi River in Eha-Amufu, the street lightening project, free healthcare services and most of all the restoration of security to the local government council that was previously endangered with security breaches.

“There are also the provisions of basic infrastructure at the local government secretariat with the new secretariat building, the fencing, its asphalting of the premises, the furnishing of the council halls; the overhaul constriction of the chairman’s lodge. All these things take money and impacts on the well-being of the people,” Obeagu said.