The traditional ruler-elect of Ogugu Ntu-egbenese Ancient Kingdom in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chief Aloysius Chidozie Ogbonna Jnr, has hailed the passage of the Enugu State Electricity Bill, among others by the State House of Assembly.
The bill, which has been signed into law, led to the establishment of the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, EERC.
As a fallout of that, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, NERC, had announced the transfer of regulatory oversight to the EERC.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Uche Ugwu, at the State House of Assembly complex, on Tuesday, Chief Ogbonna hailed the cordial working relationship between the executive and the parliament, which he said had led to seamless political leadership in the state.
He stated that Enugu’s 8th Assembly had been very proactive in making laws that would transform the state into one of the best in Africa.
He posited that bills such as the Enugu State Electricity Bill, New Enugu City Development Agency Bill, Enugu State Geographical Information System Service Bill, and Enugu State Independence Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) Amendment Bill, which have been passed and signed into law, were all geared towards bringing disruptive innovations to the state.
According to him, “I am here to appreciate you for the good works you have been rendering to the state.
“In spite of having a two-party-filled state assembly, you have coordinated the affairs in a manner that universities across the world should be encouraged to come and study.
“Enugu State House of Assembly under your leadership has been regarded as the best so far since the current political dispensations, all due to your ability to steer forward.
“In less than one year, you have been able to enact laws such as the New Enugu City Development Agency Law, Enugu State Geographical Information System Service Law, and Enugu State Independence Electoral Commission (ENSIC) Amendment Law, Enugu State Electricity Law, amongst others.
“It is on record that Enugu State House of Assembly was one of the first to pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law in the country seamlessly, even as they have members of the state assembly from two different political parties.
“The House under your leadership has been calm and focused, and it is a pleasure to come and appreciate you.”
He also stated that the people of Ogugu Ntu-egbenese Ancient Kingdom in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State were appreciative of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, who gave them the needed support to solve their 24-year-old leadership crisis, which prompted his emergence.
In his response, the speaker, Ugwu, thanked Chief Ogbonna for the commendations, which he said were a morale booster to him and his members.
He stated that the Enugu State House of Assembly, under his leadership, was ever ready to support ideas and programs that would benefit the state.
Ugwu also congratulated Chief Ogbonna on his emergence as the traditional ruler-elect of his community, as well as the entire community for unanimously breaking the leadership crisis.
“I am very elated on this visit as well as all the encomiums.
“This is a morale booster and also a call to do more.
“Since the inauguration of this Assembly, we all agreed to work together, not minding our political differences, to move Enugu State forward.
“We thank God for what we have achieved so far and also thank Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for agreeing to work with us.
“We are just like a football team in which every member is important and works together for the common good of the team.
“Our works are interrelated and interdependent, and only unity can make us achieve greater things.
“I have some of the best brains in the country as my members, and when you are a leader blessed with such people, it makes your work easier because you will have enormous achievements recorded.
“We are open to partnership with traditional institutions, religious organisations, companies, and so on, to outline ideas that will make our state better through legislation.
“Enugu State under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will soon be a place of reference to all, as we are determined to make the state an enviable one in Africa,” he stated.