Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has sworn in 13 newly appointed permanent secretaries, charging them to immediately align with his administration’s delivery-focused governance model.
At the ceremony held Monday inside the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Enugu, the governor made it clear that there would be no honeymoon period for the new appointees.
The new permanent secretaries include Chigbogu Sunday Nnaji, Phoebe Nkechinyere Edeh, Philip Anthony Arum, Egbonwonu Jeremiah, Ifeoma Justina Igwe, Ngozi Sylverline Egbo, Nkiru Henrietta Ede-Ogunnaike, Pamela Ikpa, Kennis Ngene, Anyaora I. Okereke, Adaobi Theresa Nwodo, Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, and Paul Nwabuisi.
Their appointments bring the total number of permanent secretaries in the state to 27.
Governor Mbah emphasized that the appointments were strictly merit-based, emerging from a rigorous and transparent selection process.
He said the move was designed to fill existing vacancies in the civil service while promoting equality, inclusion, and fairness.
“I believe you worked very hard to get to this level in your career, and you went through a very rigorous process to be selected. So, it is well deserved. But let me also remind you that the honeymoon is over. To whom much is given, much is expected,” he told them.
Reform Agenda and Sectoral Priorities
Mbah described permanent secretaries as the “engine room of government” and custodians of institutional memory, stressing that his administration is carrying out far-reaching reforms across all sectors.
He pointed to the 2026 budget proposal before the Enugu State House of Assembly, noting that the state had crossed the trillion-naira appropriation threshold for the first time, with ₦1.3 trillion earmarked for capital projects.
He urged the new officials to ensure processes are properly documented and sustained, adding that the expanded scale of government programmes required a more skilled workforce.
ICT competence, he said, was non-negotiable: “As leaders and chief accounting officers, you must not be beginners in ICT. We expect at least medium- to advanced-level competence.”
The governor highlighted reforms in education through smart green schools, healthcare via Type-2 primary centres across 260 wards, transportation with CNG buses and modern terminals, and agriculture through 260 farm estates aimed at boosting exports.
In tourism, he reiterated plans to attract three million visitors annually, backed by investments in hospitality infrastructure and the launch of Enugu Air to improve connectivity.
Mbah also noted that his administration had exceeded the 35% Affirmative Action benchmark in appointing permanent secretaries, reflecting gender sensitivity and inclusion. “The world is watching us.
We must hold ourselves to the highest standards of discipline and imbibe our governance philosophy of transparency, accountability, accessibility and collaboration, as clearly outlined in the citizens’ charter,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of Justice, Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them.
He pledged their commitment to the administration’s vision, acknowledging gains in revenue generation and infrastructure.
“We pledge to add value to these achievements. We assure you that you will not be disappointed in appointing us,” he concluded.
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