Enugu Good Governance: Aninri,Awgu Make Mark In Grassroots Development 
Aninri local government chairman,Chief Benneth Ajah says his administration’s priority will not shift from putting in place, projects that have direct impact on the people.
Chief Ajah gave the assurance while taking the team of the Enugu state good governance initiative round some of the projects undertaken by his administration, during the group’s biennial tour of grassroots infrastructural efforts by the 17 local government areas in the state.
The good governance team comprises Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Journalists and Coalition of Civil Society Organisation in the state.
While conducting the team in inspection of the projects on the ground, the council boss promised that the administration would not abandon any project initiated but rather ” we shall continue to introduce more developmental activities that could restore the people’s confidence in the government”.
Some of the projects visited predominantly educational and health facilities, included primary school blocks, completed and on-goung, as well as a resuscitated health centre.
At the Ekoli Okpanku Health Centre which was gathered was hitherto dilapidated and abandoned, it was observed that on return to functionality, forty pregnant women are currently undergoing antenatal activities there.
On enquiry to appreciate more of the centre’s needs, the council chairman discovered and announced immediate procurement of a motorcycle, five fans and an eletricity generating set, saying “the health of the people is paramount while pursuing their welfare and security which is the essence of government “.
Still on education, Chief Ajah explained that he had engaged one hundred and fifty-six council teachers. ” With the employment of these teachers full teaching activities have returned to schools, so I want state government to effect full employment for them so that they will not be laid off at the end of my administration “, Ajah said.
He further noted that the council had cassava- ethanol farm, an initiative of the federal government, which he said had begun to be part of the economic empowerment of the people.
At Awgu local government area, some of the project sites visited by the good governance team were, the ICT/Administrative block, council chairman’s lodge, 1.6 kilometer perimeter fencing of the Awgu orientation camp, Orie Awgu market stalls with lockups.
The 2.4- kilometer Onolieze road linking the Enugu-PortHarcourt express way, has 1.4km asphalted, while the Awa-Iyido bridge at mgbidi which connects to Nkwe, Ezere and other communities on that axis was nearing completion,in addition to a customary court at Nkwe which had been completed and handed over. 
It was also observed that the Council’s rural electrification project has connected the six council wards in Awgu South constituency comprising about 23 communities, among other projects witnessed by the good governance team.
The chairman of Awgu local government area, Hon. Okwudili Pedro Nwankwo said no community had been left untouched with a project considered of the best value to each area.
Nwankwo noted that his administration would continue to strive towards the completion of the ongoing projects to ensure the realisation of its infrastructural target.
In their separate remarks, leaders of the Enugu state good governance team; the state chairman of NLC, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, NUJ Chairman, Comrade Sam Udekwe and Onyebuchi Igboke of the CSO, expressed satisfaction with the development footprint left by the council chairmen while calling for intensified efforts to further spark up the people’s confidence in the government.
They explained that the initiative which was designed to promote grassroots development was in line with their mandate of pursuing the democratic benefits of governance, noting that ” we are not here to witch-hunt anybody but as the people’s representatives we are talking for them in pursuit of their overall interest.
“As we relay the information on the individual performances of the chairmen, they will be able to compare notes and forge ahead.
” At the end of the exercise, we are going to call the council chairmen together and give each person an award of good governance in their respective areas of excellence as deserved”, the team leaders submitted.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
