Six Years In Office: PDP Passes Vote Of Confidence On Gov Ugwuanyi’s Administration

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Enugu North Senatorial zone has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s government of Enugu State.

Members of the party in the zone said the confidence vote was influenced by Governor Ugwuanyi’s landmark performance across the three Senatorial zones of the State.

The decision follows a 6-day assessment tour conducted by the party ahead of the May 29 Democracy Day celebration, which also marks Ugwuanyi’s 6 years in office.

At a well-attended meeting of the party leaders and stakeholders at its zonal office in Nsukka, they said despite the economic quagmire and paucity of funds which is confronting Ugwuanyi’s administration and the country at large, he had performed satisfactorily.

At the meeting were 102 ward Chairmen of the party, 6 Local Government Chairmen of the party, 17 State Executive members from the zone, among others.

A communiqué issued after the meeting was read to journalists by Hon. Mike Onyeze, Enugu North Zonal Chairman of the party.

It was signed by Chief Hon. Innocent Ezeoha, the State Deputy Chairman, for State Executive Committee members from Enugu North Zone, Hon. Mike Onyeze, State Vice-Chairman/Zonal Chairman, Enugu North Senatorial Zone, for Zonal Executive Committee, Rt. Hon. Fabian Onah, Chairman of the PDP, Nsukka LG/Coordinating Chairman of all the LG Chairmen of the party in Enugu North Sen. Zone, and Hon. Emma Ugwuoke, Chairman, Amber Ward, Igbo-Eze South LGA/Coordinating Chairman of all Ward Chairmen in Enugu North Senatorial zone.

They observed that the unfriendly economic situation that greeted the present administration had remained unabated 6 years into the 8-year term of the Government and the end was not yet in sight.

“Consequently, as the PDP in Enugu North Senatorial District, embarks on an effort at retooling and refocusing the Party for greater efficiency and effectiveness, it became necessary to assess our government’s impact on our people to ascertain the extent to which the Party has delivered on our campaign promises irrespective of the unsympathetic economic situation under which the government operated and still operates.

“The assessment tour comprising of all state and zonal officers of the Party from Nsukka Senatorial District started on Monday, May 17, 2021 with a tour of Igbo-Eze North Local Government; then Igbo-Eze South Local Government (May 18, 2021); Nsukka Local Government (May 19, 2021); Uzo-Uwani Local Government (May 24, 2021); Igbo-Etiti Local Government (May 25, 2021), and Udenu Local Government (May 26,

2021) respectively.

“In the course of the exercise, the tour had occasional stop-overs in strategic places in the 6 LGAs in the zone to ferret out people’s opinion on their perception of the government vis-à-vis the quantum of projects identified and the extent to which their lives have been touched in positive ways,” the party stated.

They further noted that based on the numerous high-impact projects accessed and assessed, “we are happy to announce that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State has done exceedingly well in the last 6 years, the national economic downturn notwithstanding.

“The people’s verdict, based on human development index factors, was a resounding approval of the good work of the PDP-led government of Enugu State.

“In the Health sector, for example, he launched the Universal Health Coverage in Enugu State, intervened and integrated faith-based rural health facilities into the Free Maternal and Child Health Programme. This policy initiative, as we could see on the ground, propelled many other giant strides in the health sector such as the completed state-of-the-art Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu and construction of Type 3 hospitals in many LGAs of the state, the construction and renovation of district hospitals and health centers in the state, especially in virtually all LGAs/ rural areas in Enugu state under the primary healthcare program.

“In response to COVID-19 pandemic, he released N350 million to the State’s COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Rapid Response Team, established Isolation and Treatment Centres for COVID-19 and equipped the ultra-modern Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre and designated it as an isolation and treatment center, approved welfare packages for all health workers in the state as an incentive to battle COVID-19; purchased two additional ambulances and one incident vehicle, enforcement of the Presidential directives on nationwide curfew and inter-state movement restriction order, and later awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of facilities and provision of essential supplies in 34 health amenities across the 17 LGAs in Enugu state to increase the tempo of delivery of linked services and preparedness against community spread of COVID-19 pandemic by the Enugu State Save One Million Lives (SOML) Project, among others.

“In the Education Sector, he recruited over 5000 primary and secondary school teachers in the state, constructed, renovated and equipped 897 classroom blocks and other school projects under Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), procured and distributed 22,150 lockers and 22,150 chairs for primary school children, 1.228 tables, 1,228 armchairs and 2,456 armless chairs for the teachers, as well as I130 marker boards for teaching and 1,960 ceiling fans, for conducive learning environment (under ENSUBEB), procured and distributed 12, 480 modem writing desks and chairs for primary school pupils in the state and 868 tables and chairs tor teachers to improve the standard of learning (ENSUBEB), massive construction and reconstruction of classroom blocks, offices and hostels in the secondary schools across the siX education zones of the Post Primary Schools Management 3oard (PPSMB).

“Others include the supply of Science equipment to 135 secondary schools (under PPSMB), the supply and installation of computers to 200 secondary schools (under PPSMB), the conversion of 1000 volunteer teachers to permanent staff and release of all outstanding arrears of promotion (under PPSMB), among others.

“On economic welfare of the citizens, Peace, and Security, the Governor was among the first to implement the new Minimum Wage in Nigeria. He pays workers’ salaries on the 23rd of every month and retirees pensions before the end of the month. He also pays a 13th-month salary to workers as a Christmas bonus. Similarly, he pays 54 percent contribution for 100 lucky civil servants who won the 100 units of one-bedroom apartments at Elim Estate, Enugu through an open lottery.

groups and purchase of 260 security vehicles for their Community Policing operations, the procurement and distribution 260 motorcycles and 300 bicycles to the 260 electoral wards in the state, to assist and facilitate the operations of the Forest Guards, the construction of the 76 Police Mobile Force Squadron Facility at Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti LGA, among others.

“The result is that today, Enugu state is comparatively peaceful and accordingly adjudged to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria.

“On high profile economic ratings, the PDP is exceedingly happy that through dint of hard work, creativity and prudent management of scarce resources, the PDP government of Enugu State ably led by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi has stood out in the crowd to enjoy high profile economic ratings among other states in Nigeria.”

They outline other key shining areas of the State Government to include “Enugu state being rated as the second most advanced state in Nigeria on the Ease of Doing Business by the World Bank Group;

“Enugu State is the first in the southeast geo-political zone and ninth in the country based on IGR as against Federal Allocation;

“Enugu State is the best state based on the judicious utilization of the bailout funds, (Nigerian Senate Verdict);

“Enugu State is listed alongside Lagos and Rivers as the only three states out of the 36 states of the federation that have fulfilled obligations to their workers

(Budgl1);

“Enugu state is listed among the seven states that are solvent with impressive over 30 percent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund additional economic activities (Economic Confidential magazine verdict);

“Enugu State is the fifth most competitive state in Nigeria, according to the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria;

“Enugu State is the third most debt sustainable State in Nigeria;

“Enugu State is the first state in Nigeria to publish its Audited State Final Account for consecutive three years; and Enugu state is one of the twelve states in Nigeria that can survive without federal allocation.

“After an exhaustive assessment of the self-evidenced positive impacts of the PDP-led government of Enugu State on the good people of Enugu North Senatorial zone in the context of the entire Enugu State as one huge family, we are immensely satisfied with the positively impactful transformation going on in the State in general and Enugu North senatorial District in particular.

“We are also very happy that with the achievements of the PDP-led government in our zone as in other zones of the state, the future of our great Party in Enugu state is very bright.

“We also unequivocally pledge to support him with single mindedness of purpose in any future aspirations he may

wish to have for the good of humanity in general and Nsukka Senatorial District in particular. Furthermore, as the political leader of the state, we await him to provide us with political direction going forward.”

Full text of the Communique…

“PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY

“PDP: Power to the People!

“Enugu North Zonal Office: No. 4 Odenigbo Road, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

“COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED TODAY, THE 28TH OF MAY 2021 BY THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IN ENUGU NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE PARTY MEMBERS IN THE SENATORIAL DISTRICT AT THE END OF A 6-DAY ASSESSMENT TOUR OF THE IMPACT OF THE PDP-LED GOVERNMENT OF ENUGU STATE UNDER HIS EXCELLENCY, RT. HON. (DR.) IFEANYI LAWRENCE UGWUANYI, THE GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE,ON THE PEOPLE OF ENUGU NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT AS HE MARKS 6 YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION IN ENUGU STATE

“On May 08, 2021, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu state comprising the state and zonal officers of the Party from the zone, met at the Party’s zonal office at Nsukka to deliberate on the state of affairs of the Party in the zone and come up with ways and means of strengthening the Party. The meeting agreed that since Political Parties all over the world carry out campaigns based on the promises of their manifestoes, on one hand, and the positive impacts of the Governments produced by the Parties on the citizens concerned, on the other hand, the meeting resolved that the starting point in the Party’s consolidation process was to assess the impact of its government in Enugu State as it concerns the good people of Enugu North Senatorial District. Consequently, the meeting approved a thorough assessment tour of the impact of the PDP Government in the zone.

“Background Information

“We recall that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi took over the mantle of leadership of Enugu state 6 years ago, May 29, 2015, when Nigeria as a country was in a financial quagmire as a result of the drastic drop in crude oil prices in the international market. Consequently, the state was confronted with paucity of funds, coupled with high inherited debt profile and other huge wage bills to be serviced. This adversely affected the state’s allocations from the federation account to the extent that there were virtually no funds to attend to developmental demands of the state as well as meet other sundry needs of the public. As against what was obtainable in the previous administrations in the state, the Party at the federal level was not the same as that of the state. Also unlike the previous PDP-led administrations between 1999 and 2015, the Ugwuanyi era was birthed at a time in Nigerian history when there were neither Excess Crude allocations, handsome ecological fund allocations, Paris Club Debt Relief distribution, nor other windfalls. Apart from Enugu state and few others, the situation terribly affected over 27 states of the federation to the extent that they could not pay workers’ salaries, let alone embark on capital projects. This ugly economic environment gave rise to the necessity for Bail-Out Funds to states (i.e. giving loans to the states) as a means of helping the states to pay salaries. This hostile economic environment threatened the early realization of the governor Ugwuanyi’s lofty vision for the state as contained in his administration’s well thought out four-point agenda.

“The imperative for the Impact-Assessment Tour

“The above unfriendly economic situation that greeted this administration in 2015 has remained unabated 6 years into the 8-year term of the Government and the end is not yet in sight. Consequently, as the PDP in Enugu North Senatorial District, embarks on an effort at retooling and refocusing the Party for greater efficiency and effectiveness, it became necessary to assess our government’s impact on our people with a view to ascertaining the extent to which the Party has delivered on our campaign promises irrespective of the unsympathetic economic situation under which the government operated and still operates.

“The assessment tour comprising of all state and zonal officers of the Party from Nsukka Senatorial District, started on Monday, May 17, 2021 with a tour of Igbo-Eze North Local Government; then Igbo-Eze South Local Government (May 18, 2021); Nsukka Local Government (May 19, 2021); Uzo-Uwani Local Government (May 24, 2021); Igbo-Etiti Local Government (May 25, 2021), and Udenu Local Government (May 26, 2021) respectively.

“The assessment exercise was guided by some set standards, namely: identification of high-impact projects executed by the government; the responsiveness of such projects towards addressing the challenges of the people; their needs, yearnings and aspirations as well as citizens’ disposition towards the government, among other benchmarks. In the course of the exercise, the tour had occasional stop-overs in strategic places in the 6 LGAs in the zone to ferret out people’s opinion on their perception of the government vis-à-vis the quantum of projects identified and the extent to which their lives have been touched in positive ways. Such areas utilized for information gathering/peoples’ perceptive data were major markets, civic centres where people normally gather, popular recreation centres/rendezvous, chats with the ordinary man in the street, among other avenues where public opinion could be gauged. It was a qualitative exploratory assessment.

“Result of our Findings

“Based on the numerous high-impact projects accessed and assessed, we are happy to announce that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu state has done exceedingly well in the last 6 years, the national economic downturn notwithstanding. The peoples’ verdict, based on human development index factors, was a resounding approval of the good work of the PDP-led government of Enugu state. For example, accessed against health, education and economic imperatives of the people which constitute the Human Development Index (HDI) criteria, the Governor stands out in the comity of Governors in Nigeria.

“In the Health sector, for example, he launched the Universal Health Coverage in Enugu state, intervened and integrated faith-based rural health facilities into the Free Maternal and Child Health Programme. This policy initiative, as we could see on the ground, propelled many other giant strides in the health sector such as the completed state-of-the-art Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre, Enugu and construction of Type 3 hospitals in many LGAs of the state, the construction and renovation of district hospitals and health centres in the state, especially in virtually all LGAs/ rural areas in Enugu state under the primary healthcare programme.

“In response to covid-19 pandemic, he released N350 million to the state’s COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Rapid Response Team, established Isolation and Treatment Centres for COVID-19 and equipped the ultra-modern Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre and designated it as an isolation and treatment centre, approved welfare packages for all health workers in the state as incentive to battle COVID-19; purchased two additional ambulances and one incident vehicle, enforcement of the Presidential directives on nationwide curfew and inter-state movement restriction order, and later awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of facilities and provision of essential supplies in 34 health amenities across the 17 LGAs in Enugu state to increase the tempo of delivery of linked services and preparedness against community spread of COVID-19 pandemic by the Enugu State Save One Million Lives (SOML) Project, among others.

“In the Education Sector, he recruited over 5000 primary and secondary school teachers in the state, constructed, renovated and equipped 897 classroom blocks and other school projects under Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), procured and distributed 22,150 lockers and 22,150 chairs for primary school children, 1,228 tables, 1,228 arm chairs and 2,456 armless chairs for the teachers, as well as 1130 marker boards for teaching and 1,960 ceiling fans, for conducive learning environment (under ENSUBEB), procured and distributed 12, 480 modern writing desks and chairs for primary school pupils in the state and 868 tables and chairs for teachers to improve the standard of learning (ENSUBEB), massive construction and reconstruction of classroom blocks, offices and hostels in the secondary schools across the six education zones of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB). Others include the supply of Science equipment to 135 secondary schools (under PPSMB), the supply and installation of computers to 200 secondary schools (under PPSMB), the conversion of 1000 volunteer teachers to permanent staff and release of all outstanding arrears of promotion (under PPSMB), among others.

“On economic welfare of the citizens, Peace and Security, the Governor was among the first to implement the new Minimum Wage in Nigeria. He pays workers’ salaries on the 23rd of every month and retirees’ pensions before the end of the month. He also pays 13th month salary to workers as Christmas bonus. Similarly, he pays 54 percent equity contribution for 100 lucky civil servants who won the 100 units one bedroom apartments at Elim Estate, Enugu through open lottery.

“On Security which is the bane of our nation today, our opinion polls gave special credit to the Governor for the procurement and donation of 100 units of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) patrol vans with communication gadgets to the security agencies to aid their operations; the employment of 1,700 Forest Guards, which was the first in the South East geo-political zone, the repositioning of the Vigilante/Neighbourhood Watch groups and purchase of 260 security vehicles for their Community Policing operations, the procurement and distribution 260 motorcycles and 300 bicycles to the 260 electoral wards in the state, to assist and facilitate the operations of the Forest Guards, the construction of the 76 Police Mobile Force Squadron Facility at Ekwegbe, Igbo-Etiti LGA, among others. The result is that today, Enugu state is comparatively peaceful and accordingly adjudged to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria.

“On high profile economic ratings, the PDP is exceedingly happy that through dint of hard work, creativity and prudent management of scarce resources, the PDP government of Enugu state ably led by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi has stood out in the crowd to enjoy high profile economic ratings among other states in Nigeria. These include:

“Enugu state is rated as the second most advanced state in Nigeria on the Ease of Doing Business by the World Bank Group;

“Enugu state is the first in the South East geo-political zone and ninth in the country based on IGR as against Federal Allocation;

“Enugu state is the best state based on the judicious utilization of the bailout funds (Nigerian Senate Verdict);

“Enugu state is listed alongside Lagos and Rivers as the only three states out of the 36 states of the federation that have fulfilled obligations to their workers (BudgIT);

“Enugu state is listed among the seven states that are solvent with impressive over 30 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund additional economic activities (Economic Confidential magazine verdict);

“Enugu state is the fifth most competitive state in Nigeria, according to the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria;

“Enugu state is the third most debt sustainable State in Nigeria;

“Enugu state is the first state in Nigeria to publish its Audited State Final Account for consecutive three years; and Enugu state is one of the twelve states in Nigeria that can survive without federal allocation

“Above all, what is most heartwarming is that these high impact transformational strides were replicated in every other critical sector of Enugu State economy.

“Vote of Confidence and Pledge of Support and Solidarity

“After an exhaustive assessment of the self-evidenced positive impacts of the PDP-led government of Enugu state on the good people of Enugu North Senatorial zone in the context of the entire Enugu state as one huge family, we are immensely satisfied with the positively impactful transformation going on in the state in general and Enugu North senatorial District in particular. We are also very happy that with the achievements of the PDP-led government in our zone as in other zones of the state, the future of our great Party in Enugu state is very bright.

“Consequently, we the entire members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu North Senatorial District, hereby unanimously pass a Vote of Confidence on Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State who is not only the leader of the PDP in Enugu State but also the leader of the Party in the whole of the South-East zone of Nigeria. We also unequivocally pledge to support him with single mindedness of purpose in any future aspirations he may wish to have for the good of humanity in general and Nsukka Senatorial District in particular. Furthermore, as the political leader of the state, we await him to provide us with political direction going forward.

“This Communiqué is signed by:

“Chief Hon. Innocent Ezeoha

“State Deputy Chairman

“For: State Executive Committee members

“From Enugu North Senatorial Zone.

“Hon. Nze Mike Onyeze

“State Vice Chairman/Zonal Chairman, Enugu North Senatorial Zone

“For: Zonal Executive Committee

“Rt. Hon. Fabian Onah “Chairman, Nsukka LGA PDP Chapter/

“Coordinating Chairman of the all LGA Chairmen of PDP in Enugu North Sen. Zone “Hon. Emma Ugwuoke

“Chairman, Amebor Ward, Igbo-Eze South LGA/Coordinating Chairman of all Ward Chairmen in Enugu North Senatorial Zone.