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The government of Enugu State has been called on by Frank Nweke to adopt a policy of transparency, accountability, and inclusion as provided by the Open Government Partnership Initiative in the management of the state’s affairs.
In a statement commemorating the 32nd anniversary of Enugu State, Nweke questioned the government’s failure to disclose the current financial status of the state, noting that the funds received from the Federal Allocation alone should be over N20 billion.
In the 18-page statement, Nweke also addressed issues ranging from insecurity and the militarization of the Southeast to economic instability, Water, Sanitation and Health, Local Government performance and accountability, and the E-Ticket scheme for tax management. He went further to enumerate expectations for improved communication, stakeholder engagement and data gathering to ensure accountability and inclusion in government.
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On Security, he shared reservations about the heavy presence of the military across the state and the Southeast, citing reports of excessive checkpoints characterised by intimidation and undue embarrassment. Noting that these were detrimental to personal safety and offputting for potential investors, he charged the government and the Nigerian military to address the concerns and revisit the approach.
Meanwhile, he commended the government’s initial action to address pensioners’ welfare and further called for better data-driven approaches to economic and social planning. With particular attention to slums, senior citizens, and People Living With Disabilities, Nweke charged the government to create a verifiable State Social Register working with the traditional rulers and the town unions in communities across the State. According to him, this was required to ensure that the vulnerable members of society were protected and included in social, economic, and infrastructural planning from the initiation process.
Nweke charged both citizens and the media to take a greater interest in the economic development of the state and demand information from the government, stating that “we must consistently remain curious about the management of our affairs in the state, ask questions, and be active partners in the development of Enugu.”
