The Ebonyi State Government has dismissed allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state is being governed through “humongous executive approvals and announcements without evidential material outcomes,” describing the claims as misleading and unsupported by facts.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, said the administration of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru remains committed to constitutional governance, transparency, due process, and measurable development.
According to the commissioner, approvals granted by the State Executive Council (EXCO) are policy authorizations rather than confirmations of completed projects. He explained that once an approval is granted, projects must proceed through legally prescribed stages, including budgetary appropriation, procurement, competitive bidding, due diligence, contract award, supervision, certification, payment, completion, commissioning, and audit.
He stated that these procedures are guided by Sections 120–122 of the 1999 Constitution, the Public Procurement Act, the Ebonyi State Procurement Law, Financial Regulations, and Treasury Circulars.
The government also emphasized that no money can be withdrawn from the State Consolidated Revenue Fund without approval by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, noting that all public expenditures are subject to audit and legislative oversight. It maintained that allegations of financial mismanagement should be supported by verifiable evidence, such as reports from the Auditor-General or anti-corruption agencies.
On the issue of contract awards, the commissioner explained that contractors are selected only after competitive bidding, evaluation, and approval by the appropriate procurement and tender boards, adding that announcing contractors before the conclusion of the procurement process would violate procurement regulations.
Highlighting the administration’s achievements, the government argued that governance should be assessed based on the overall performance of an administration rather than isolated announcements or project commissioning ceremonies.
Among the projects and initiatives listed were the Izzo and Amanze Housing Estates, the Civil Servants Housing Scheme, the completion of 26 bungalows for widows under the first phase of the housing programme, the recruitment of 100 medical personnel and other health workers, the revitalization of 13 general hospitals, recruitment into the state civil service, payment of pensions and gratuities, and the construction of the Ebonyi State Medical Diagnostics Centre at Nwofe equipped with MRI and CT Scan facilities.
Other initiatives highlighted include the construction of 43 smart classroom blocks across the state, rural and urban road projects, water reticulation schemes, the recruitment of 2,000 teachers, urban renewal programmes, market redevelopment, sponsorship of more than 1,400 students on local and foreign scholarships, and the ongoing construction of the 10-storey Ebonyi International Trade Centre at Presco Junction in Abakaliki.
Defending the state’s Smart Education initiative, the government said the deployment of digital classrooms, smart boards, artificial intelligence tools, learning management systems, and virtual laboratories is designed to align Ebonyi’s education sector with global standards, while investments in teacher recruitment and school infrastructure continue.
The statement also addressed ongoing industrialization efforts, noting that proposed projects, including the Huawei Factory and the Abakaliki Cement Factory, are progressing through internationally recognized procedures such as memoranda of understanding, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, financing arrangements, land acquisition, and construction planning.
According to the government, the state’s Business Enabling Reform (BERR) programme is built around nationally recognized performance indicators aimed at improving the ease of doing business, land administration, taxation, and digital governance.
Responding to questions raised by the opposition, the government maintained that completed and ongoing projects are visible across the state, while contractor information is made public after procurement processes are concluded. It added that government performance is reflected in annual budgets, audited financial statements, reports by the Auditor-General, legislative oversight, and public inspection of projects.
The commissioner also cited the legal principle of the presumption of regularity, stating that official government actions are presumed lawful until proven otherwise through admissible evidence, placing the burden of proof on those making allegations.
Reaffirming the Nwifuru administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and service delivery, the state government called on the opposition to engage in constructive criticism supported by verifiable facts.
It concluded that the effectiveness of governance should be measured by the functioning of public institutions, adherence to procurement laws, proper auditing of public funds, the implementation of development projects, and improvements in the welfare of citizens.
