Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has declared that his administration has eliminated the manual handling of government revenues through the deployment of digital platforms, saying the state’s governance model is rooted in transparency, accountability, and traceability of public funds.
Speaking on Wednesday when he received the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Adamu Aliyu, SAN, at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Mbah reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, supported by institutional reforms and technology-driven systems.
“In Enugu, we operate a zero-tolerance policy for corruption. We have established systems that transcend individuals,” Mbah stated. “No government revenue is collected manually. Whether it is ₦100 or ₦200,000, every payment is made through a secure electronic platform.”
He recalled that his very first executive action upon assumption of office was the signing of Executive Order 001, which established the Citizens’ Charter — a framework mandating regular disclosures of government finances and operations.
“Two hours after my oath of office, I signed Executive Order 001, which is one of the Citizens’ Charters. That document binds me to render periodic accounts to the people of Enugu, reporting every naira received and how it is spent. This is the bedrock of our governance model,” the governor said.
He also highlighted the government’s engagement with the public through regular town hall meetings and stakeholder consultations, noting that transparency fosters trust and enhances citizen participation in governance.
Linking anti-corruption efforts with the state’s broader economic vision, Governor Mbah said: “Our target is to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years. This ambition depends heavily on private investments. But investors don’t follow promises; they follow systems — the rule of law, ease of doing business, and transparency. That is what we are deliberately building in Enugu.”
Governor Mbah further welcomed the regional anti-corruption roundtable being hosted in Enugu between ICPC and Attorneys General from the South East, describing it as a timely dialogue that resonates with his administration’s drive and governance philosophy.
In his remarks, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Adamu Aliyu, SAN, called for deeper collaboration between the Commission and the Enugu State Government to jointly tackle corruption at the sub-national level.
He lauded Governor Mbah’s anti-corruption reforms and affirmed that ICPC remains committed to a three-pronged mandate — enforcement, prevention, and public enlightenment.
“We are not here in competition. We believe in partnership,” Dr. Aliyu said. “ICPC is here to strengthen its working relationship with the state, and support the government in institutionalizing strong anti-corruption mechanisms.”
The ICPC boss decried the debilitating effect of corruption on national development and investor confidence, noting: “Corruption does not only blight our reputation among the comity of nations, it also impedes the flow of foreign direct investment, and undermines public trust.”
He emphasized the role of Attorneys General and Legal Advisers as critical stakeholders in the anti-corruption framework, especially at the state level.
“There is no way we can achieve our goals, especially at the sub-national level without working closely with the Chief Law Officers of the state. They are the closest to the governors, and they guide legal and institutional responses to corruption”.
Dr. Aliyu concluded by pledging ICPC’s readiness to support Enugu and other progressive states in building resilient anti-corruption systems, urging Governor Mbah to consider formalizing a collaborative framework with the Commission.
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