_…Hails governor for harmonising salaries of local government and state workers, commitment to workers’ welfare, and approval of ₦32bn for legacy gratuity payments_
The Amaka Nweke Foundation has congratulated the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, on his emergence as Grand Performer of the Year at the 2026 National Mandatory Summit of the Association of Chairmen of Local Government Service Commissions in Nigeria, held in Abuja.
The foundation described the prestigious recognition as a well-deserved endorsement of the governor’s commitment to institutional reforms, workers’ welfare, grassroots development and the strengthening of local government administration across Enugu State.
The congratulatory message was made in Enugu by the Project Coordinator of the Amaka Nweke Foundation, Pastor Adaeze Nweke, who commended Governor Mbah for demonstrating purposeful leadership and a commitment to making governance more responsive to the needs of the people, particularly at the grassroots.
Pastor Nweke noted that one of the significant factors underpinning the governor’s recognition was his determination to bridge the longstanding gap between the state and local government systems, especially in the area of workers’ welfare.
According to her, the harmonisation of minimum wage levels for local government employees with those of their counterparts in the state public service represents a major step towards promoting fairness, improving staff morale and strengthening the local government system.
She observed that local government workers are central to grassroots administration and deserve policies that recognise their contributions to community development and public service delivery.
Pastor Nweke said the Mbah administration’s approach to workers’ welfare reflects an understanding that an effective local government system must be built on a motivated, fairly remunerated and professionally equipped workforce.
She further commended Governor Mbah for approving approximately ₦32 billion for the settlement of outstanding legacy gratuities owed to retirees, describing the approval as a significant demonstration of his administration’s commitment to public service welfare.
The Enugu State Government has announced that the first tranche of ₦10 billion would be released to commence payments of verified legacy gratuity liabilities, with subsequent payments to follow until the outstanding obligations are cleared.
The government has also disclosed plans to address outstanding gratuity liabilities at the local government level, estimated at more than ₦10 billion, to ensure that eligible local government retirees also benefit from the settlement process.
Pastor Nweke described the approved gratuity payment initiative as an important step towards restoring confidence among retirees and recognising the sacrifices of workers who devoted their productive years to public service.
She noted that the approval of funds for gratuity payments in the 2026 budget demonstrated the administration’s commitment to addressing outstanding obligations through an established fiscal and administrative process.
According to her, the welfare of serving workers and retirees remains an essential component of responsible governance, adding that policies that improve employees’ conditions of service and address retirement benefits can strengthen public institutions and inspire greater dedication among workers.
The foundation’s Project Coordinator also commended Governor Mbah’s wider development agenda, particularly investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and the digitalisation of local government administration.
She highlighted the establishment of 260 Smart Green Schools and 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, alongside road projects across the state’s 17 local government areas, as important interventions aimed at expanding access to essential services and improving residents’ quality of life.
Pastor Nweke further noted that the deployment of technology in security operations and the digital transformation of local government administration reflected an effort to improve public safety, transparency, accountability and institutional efficiency.
She said the digitalisation of local government processes could enhance personnel management, reduce administrative bottlenecks and strengthen the capacity of councils to respond more effectively to the needs of their communities.
The foundation maintained that the Grand Performer of the Year award should be viewed not merely as a personal honour for the governor but also as recognition of the importance of sustained reforms in local government administration and the broader public service.
Pastor Nweke expressed confidence that the recognition would encourage the state government to sustain its development drive, deepen workers’ welfare reforms and continue strengthening the institutions responsible for delivering governance at the grassroots.
She reaffirmed the Amaka Nweke Foundation’s commitment to initiatives that promote human development, social welfare, access to essential services and community advancement. She added that effective collaboration among government, civil society and development-oriented organisations remained vital to achieving sustainable progress.
The foundation congratulated Governor Mbah on the award and expressed optimism that his administration would continue to build on its ongoing reforms to advance development across Enugu State.
The Amaka Nweke Foundation remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote community development, human welfare and improved living conditions.
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