As Governor Francis Nwifuru government mark three years for office on May 29, many Ebonyi people dey ask one simple question: the promises wey dem make for 2023 don happen or e still dey for drawing board?
No be lie, this administration fit point to some achievements. Roads don dey under construction for different parts of the state, model secondary schools dey receive upgrades, and government talk say dem don clear many pension and gratuity debts wey previous administrations leave behind.
But governance no be only about projects wey government announce. Na about how ordinary people take feel the impact for their daily lives.
One issue wey raise serious concern na teachers’ welfare. For February 2025, teachers for seven local government areas begin indefinite strike because salary for four months never enter their accounts. For a state wey talk say education na priority, that situation raise plenty questions about commitment to workers’ welfare.
Another matter na unemployment. Every year, universities and higher institutions dey produce graduates, but jobs no dey enough to absorb them. Many young Ebonyians still dey travel go Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities to hustle for survival. Some dey work jobs wey no match their qualifications simply because opportunities scarce for home.
Even Governor Nwifuru himself acknowledge this challenge when he announce plans to bring back Ebonyians wey dey do menial jobs outside the state. While the initiative sound good, many people still dey wait to see practical results. After all, bringing people back na one thing; creating sustainable jobs for them na another matter entirely.
The governor also show concern about performance inside his own cabinet when he publicly issue ultimatum to commissioners in 2025. The message clear: not everybody for government dey deliver as expected. While some people praise the governor for demanding accountability, others see am as evidence say some sectors no dey perform up to standard.
Labour matters also remain unresolved for some workers. Although state government increase minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦90,000, reports show say implementation for some local government education workers face delays because of outstanding financial obligations.
Supporters of the administration go rightly point to the roads under construction, school projects and pension payments. Critics, on the other hand, go point to unemployment, salary disputes and slow implementation of some key policies.
The truth dey somewhere between both arguments.
Three years into this administration, Ebonyi fit not be where e dey in 2023. Some progress clearly don happen. But the transformational change wey many voters expect still never fully arrive.
As the government enters its fourth year, citizens no go judge am only by the number of projects announced or ceremonies held. Dem go judge am by whether teachers receive salaries on time, whether graduates fit find decent jobs, whether businesses fit grow, and whether ordinary families see real improvement for their standard of living.
At the end of the day, governance no be about press releases. Na about results.
For Ebonyi people, this next one year go show whether Nwifuru first tenure go enter history as time wey real change happen, or as another period of big promises wey never fully become reality.
As we dey bring you tori wey concern our yard every Saturday, remember say Tori for Yard na your space too. If anything dey happen for your area wey you wan make the world hear, send am come ENN — together, we go make sure every voice counts.
