Mbah inaugurates reconstituted Civil Service Commission, governing councils of ESUT, IMT, others

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has inaugurated the recently reconstituted Enugu State Civil Service Commission and the Governing Councils of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, and the Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET).

Mbah also inaugurated the newly reconstituted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board.

At the brief ceremony at Government House, Enugu, the Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, said the rejigging of the leadership of the various Governing Councils, Boards, and Commission was in line with his administration’s determination to build strong institutions.

He said the administration would count on the new leadership in pursuit of its vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, noting that such could not be achieved without an effective and efficient civil service and skilled manpower that fit into a 21st-century economy.

“Again, during the campaign for this office, we promised Ndi Enugu that it would no longer be business as usual. We promised to run the state like an enterprise to maximise efficiency and results.

“So, you must note that our cardinal principles – transparency, traceability and accountability – are not mere state slogans. They reflect in the actions and decisions of our administration daily. So, you must uphold them,” he added.

He also charged them to operate on the basis of evidence, meritocracy, innovation, and teamwork.

“You must be empirical. We also expect you to uphold fairness, equity, and meritocracy.

“Again, his administration is founded on disruptive innovation. But you cannot disrupt a system without bringing in a different way of thinking and of doing things. Examine existing processes and develop new approaches that would improve efficiency and results.

“Importantly, you must function as a team. In our administration, we do not compete, we complement and collaborate to bring out the best in every team member and every sector. Working in silos will be detrimental to the entire system.

“Operating in isolation could create room for corruption and duplication,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, for the Enugu State Civil Service Commission, Prof Gabriel Ajah was inaugurated as the Chairman, while Ambrose Nwodo was sworn in as Secretary. Others are: Christian Mbah (Member One), Mrs Stella Ekweremadu (Member Two), Mrs Theresa Onyefuzili Ifeanyichukwu (Member Three), and Uzonna Emmanuel Ogarabe (Member Four).

ESUT Governing Council has Victor Chukwuani as Chairman, and James Ifeanyichukwu Ajibo, Dr Eric Oluedo, Dr Gladys Ngozi Okoro, and Mr Chukwu Chikaodiri Joy Chukwu as Members.

Chinedu Onu was inaugurated as Chairman of the IMT Governing Council, and Dr Barth Nwankwo, Emeka Ede, Mrs Rita Chimaobi, and Prince Tony Nwonye as Members.

TVET Board Chairman-designate, Dr Amaka Ngene, and the Board Members – Bonaventure Onu, Nnadi Eluke, Kingsley Agwu, and Mrs Joy Odike – were equally inaugurated.

The newly reconstituted leadership of the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, was equally inaugurated. They are Rev Prof Anthony Aniagboso Igwe (Rector), Deaconess Ifeoma Nwobodo (Chairman of Governing Council), as well as Obinna Aleke, Henry Okeke, and Emeka Abba as Members.

For ESCET, Enugu, Nwabueze Ugwu was inaugurated as Chairman, while Prince Cletus Ajaegbu, Dr Chiesonu Isiga Eruchalu, Dr Chukwuemeka Nwatu, and Theophilus Onyebeke were inaugurated as members.

Accepting the new responsibility, Professor Ajah, a seasoned bureaucrat, thanked Governor Mbah, on behalf of his members, for the confidence reposed in him.

He unveiled the “P.R.E.S.E.N.T” philosophy, which he said stood for Professionalism, Responsibility, Excellence, Service to all, Exemplary conduct, Neutrality, and Team spirit, and would guide his Commission.

Onuh, on his part, pledged to work together with the school management to further uplift the IMT, while the Chairman of the ESUT Governing Council, Chukwuani, assured that the Council would work with the university management to promote the institution’s growth and development. He emphasized that there would be no going back on Mbah’s Experiential Learning model.

Speaking with newsmen, Chairman, Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Mrs Nwobodo, recalled that the institution ranked 29th nationally when she was first appointed, noting that with Mbah’s huge investment in education, the institution now ranks 2nd on the table of state polytechnics and 4th on the table of both federal and state polytechnics.

Speaking with newsmen also, the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, and the Chairman of TVET Board, Dr Ngene, commended Mbah’s investment in education, saying he had provided their respective institutions with the wings to soar higher.

Chairman of ESCET Board, Ugwu, emphasised the commitment and readiness of his team to enhance productivity and efficiency in the institution.

The ceremony was witnessed by friends and well wishes of the appointees.