By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has adopted a sweeping set of measures aimed at strengthening grassroots governance, including the enforcement of mandatory residency for Development Centre (DC) Coordinators and stricter oversight on the utilization of public funds.
The decisions came during Thursday’s plenary session, where lawmakers adopted the report of the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters, and the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), following an extensive oversight visit to all 64 Development Centres across the state.
Presenting the report, Committee Chairman, Goodluck Obinna Mbam emphasized that the continued failure of many coordinators to reside within their respective Development Centres violates Law 004 of 2008, which mandates such residency as a prerequisite for effective local governance. The Assembly resolved that all DC Coordinators must comply with this legal requirement or face disciplinary actions.
The lawmakers also raised serious concerns over the lack of transparency in the management of monthly ₦10 million capital project allocations disbursed to the Centres. Coordinators have now been directed to provide detailed records and justifications for all expenditures. Any failure to do so, the House warned, would attract legal consequences, including possible prosecution.
Additionally, the report highlighted the prolonged non-payment of entitlements such as imprests and festive bonuses to Management Committee members in several DCs, particularly in Igbeagu, Effium, and Inyaba. The Assembly called on relevant authorities to address these outstanding payments as a matter of urgency, noting their importance in maintaining staff morale and operational effectiveness.
While acknowledging the commendable efforts of some coordinators, the House issued warnings to those with poor performance records, urging them to improve or face sanctions. Lawmakers also recommended regular capacity-building workshops for Development Centre staff to enhance service delivery and support Governor Francis Nwifuru’s "Charter of Needs" agenda.
The motion to adopt the committee’s report was moved by House Leader, Kingsley Ikoro and seconded by Friday Ogbuewu of Ezza South Constituency. The Clerk of the House, Mrs. Blessing Edene, was instructed to formally communicate the Assembly’s resolutions to the Governor.
In related legislative activity, the Assembly passed the Ebonyi State Street Naming and Property Addressing System Law 2025, a landmark legislation designed to streamline street identification and property documentation within the Abakaliki capital territory. Speaker Moses Odunwa described the law as a vital tool for urban planning, improved public service delivery, and increased internally generated revenue.
The House also approved a request from Governor Nwifuru for consultancy services to recover outstanding Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes from federal tertiary institutions operating within the state. In a bid to promote youth engagement and sports development, lawmakers advanced the first reading of a bill to establish the Ebonyi State Sports Festival Committee.
With these developments, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, service delivery, and the consolidation of democratic structures at the grassroots level.
