Gov. Mbah Charges 17 Council Chairmen to Prioritise Education, Healthcare, Agriculture, Sanitation and Grassroots Development.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — October 2, 2026
THE 17 newly inaugurated Local Government Area chairmen in Enugu State have formally commenced their tenure with Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah charging them to hit the ground running and make poverty reduction a central priority of their administration.
Governor Mbah gave the charge during the swearing-in of the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen at Government House, Enugu, stressing that the local government system must function as an active partner in the state’s development agenda rather than a passive tier of government.
The Governor reminded the chairmen that the commitments they made to residents during the electioneering period had now become obligations to the people, describing the relationship between elected officials and citizens as a social contract.
He consequently urged them to commence work immediately, noting that there would be “no honeymoon” given the scale of responsibilities before them.
Mbah identified education, healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and poverty reduction as key areas requiring immediate attention, particularly in rural communities where poverty remains a major concern.
On education, the Governor urged the council chairmen to go beyond infrastructure and focus on measurable outcomes, including literacy, numeracy and school enrolment. He specifically challenged them to identify school-age children who are out of school in their respective local government areas and work towards ensuring that no child remains excluded from basic education.
The Governor also charged the new council leaders to remain accessible and accountable to the people, while ensuring that public resources are responsibly managed.
He stressed that poverty reduction must be approached through deliberate measurement and concrete interventions rather than political declarations, urging the chairmen to prioritise the welfare of poor and vulnerable residents.
Responding on behalf of the newly inaugurated chairmen, the Chairman of Igboeze South LGA and Deputy Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Enugu State, Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, expressed appreciation to the people of Enugu State and pledged the commitment of the chairmen to good governance and grassroots development.
The 17 chairmen were sworn in following the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission’s declaration of the results of the September 26 local government elections. The new council leadership is expected to translate the administration’s development priorities into programmes and services at the grassroots level.
The inauguration marks a new phase in Enugu’s local government administration, with emphasis on grassroots service delivery, accountability, human capital development and poverty reduction.
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