By Nnamani Arinze Darlington
In a heartwarming display of compassionate governance, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, once again placed the welfare of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, at the forefront of his administration’s policies.
On Tuesday, he ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of daily toll collections from petty traders, toiling folks struggling to eck out a living by lawful means, no lockup shops or any fixed business station.
As small as the daily toll of around N100 and N200 would seem, the Governor had reckoned the burden on that category of persons could still be enormous and made the decision to exempt them from that obligation!
This decisive action has brought much-needed relief to thousands of affected low-income traders, many of whom are hawkers, thereby demonstrating a leadership driven by genuine empathy rather than any political consideration.
Far from any notion of populist gestures ahead of the 2027 elections, Governor Mbah’s move is the natural outcome of a structured, transparent review process that began long before any election cycle entered public discourse. In October 2025, he proactively announced the formation of a multi-stakeholder review committee on taxation. By November 2025, the committee was formally inaugurated with broad representation from market associations, government officials, labour groups, and civil society. Its mandate was clear: examine all tax policies, levies, and fees to promote transparency, fairness, efficiency, and equity while eliminating undue burdens on citizens.
The committee’s resolutions and recommendations directly informed this policy shift. Governor Mbah listened attentively to the voices of affected traders and stakeholders, then acted swiftly and decisively. At a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) at the Old Government Lodge, the governor who was represented by Secretary to the State Government Prof. Chidiebere Onyia described these petty traders as vulnerable and declared continued collection of the daily tolls illegal. He emphasized that his administration “detests any action that escalates people’s sufferings,” underscoring a consistent philosophy of inclusive development that protects the weak while building a stronger economy.
To ensure full compliance, Governor Mbah immediately constituted a task force chaired by the SSG, charging local government chairmen, traditional rulers, market leaders, and presidents-general to report any violations. Anyone whether acting for government or personal gain found collecting the banned tolls will face the full weight of the law. Importantly, the directive does not affect traders with lockup shops, who continue paying their standard annual fees of ₦30,000 or ₦36,000. This balanced approach maintains revenue integrity while shielding the most vulnerable from daily harassment
This latest reform builds seamlessly on Governor Mbah’s earlier transformative initiatives. The signing of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (Establishment and Consolidation of Revenue Administration) Law, 2025, created a one-stop shop for tax collection, eliminated multiple taxation and illegal levies, and established an autonomous, technology-driven revenue agency. Through e-payments and digital systems, his administration has successfully widened the tax net, plugged leakages, and boosted Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) without arbitrarily hiking rates proving that efficiency and empathy can coexist.
The Enugu State ALGON chairman, Okechukwu Edeh, speaking on behalf of council chairmen, pledged robust implementation of the new order across all local governments, reflecting unified commitment to this people-first agenda.Governor Peter Mbah’s decision to abolish daily taxation on petty traders is a shining example of responsive, empathetic leadership rooted in evidence-based review rather than electoral expediency. By heeding the committee’s suggestions and prioritizing the dignity and livelihoods of small-scale traders who form the grassroots engine of Enugu’s markets he continues to build a fairer, more prosperous state where development uplifts rather than burdens the poor.
In an era when many leaders resort to last-minute populism, Mbah’s consistent track record from tax system overhaul to this targeted relief;stands as proof of principled governance. Enugu residents can take pride in a leader who truly listens, acts with compassion, and delivers relief not for votes, but because it is the right thing to do. This is leadership with both heart and vision, steadily transforming Enugu into a model of inclusive progress.
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