Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Monday swore in 13 newly appointed permanent secretaries, immediately charging the high-ranking officials to align themselves with his administration’s mandate for delivery-oriented governance. Speaking at the ceremony held at Government House, Enugu, Governor Mbah made it clear that there would be no “honeymoon period” for the new appointees.
The new permanent secretaries include Chigbogu Nnaji, Phoebe Edeh, Philip Arum, Jeremiah Egbonwonu, Ifeoma Igwe, Ngozi Egbo, Nkiru Ede-Ogunnaike, Pamela Ikpa, Canice Ngene, Anyaora Okereke, Adaobi Nwodo, Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, and Paul Nwabuisi.
Governor Mbah emphasized that the appointments were strictly merit-based, having been selected through a rigorous and transparent process. He noted that their elevation filled existing vacancies in the civil service, promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion. He reminded the new custodians of institutional memory that their promotion brought with it significant responsibility. “I believe you worked very hard to get to this level in your career, and you went through a very rigorous process to be selected. So, it is well deserved. But let me also remind you that the honeymoon is over. To whom much is given, much is expected,” the governor stated, describing permanent secretaries as the engine room of government and central to the far-reaching reforms underway across all sectors of his administration.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, the newly sworn-in solicitor-general and permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in them by the governor. He acknowledged the gains already recorded by the Mbah administration in key areas such as revenue generation and infrastructural development. Ezenwukwa pledged the group’s unwavering commitment to the administration’s vision, assuring the governor, “We pledge to add value to these achievements. We assure you that you will not be disappointed in appointing us.”
