By Special Correspondent

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Friday, signed the New Enugu City Development Agency Bill, Enugu State Geographical Information System Service Bill, and Enugu State Independence Electoral Commission, ENSIC, (Amendment) Bill into Law.

Speaking during the signing, which was witnessed by the speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, at Government House, Enugu, on Friday, Mbah said that while the New Enugu City Development Agency Law had an administrative authority to manage the development of a new city masterplan that would cater for the present and future generations, the Enugu State Geographical Information System Service Law was for the automation and digitalisation of processes for service delivery, starting with lands.

He explained that the ENSIEC Amendment Law would bring the state’s election management body in tandem with amendments to the 1999 Constitution as it concerns electoral bodies.

On the New Enugu City Development Agency, he said: “We know that we are very futuristic in the way we view and approach governance. We are essentially already thinking about our tomorrow. As you all know, Enugu is gradually getting to an implosion level. Since the city of Enugu was created, there has not been any attempt to expand the city to be able to accommodate more people. What we have witnessed today is a legal framework that allows us and even future governments to continue to expand the city.

“What we are going to do with the passage and signing into law of this bill is to have a master plan of the New Enugu City. We may not be able to execute or fully implement this master plan, but at least, there is a master plan for our children; those who will come after us will not get to a situation where they will be wondering, did our parents not think about us?

“Therefore, what we have done today is to think about our future generations. We now have an area that is today cited and called the New Enugu City. By signing this bill into law, we now also set up an administrative authority that is going to manage this New City.”

Throwing more light on the Enugu State Geographical Information System Service, he said it was in line with the administration’s campaign promise to automate governance process, starting with simplification and sanitisation of land administration and services in the state.

“You recall during our campaigns, we promised that we were going to ensure that you commence and complete the processing of your Certificates of Occupancy within 72 hours. So, what we have done here today is to set up an agency that manages this information such as our property information system, our survey and land information systems, and a whole lot of other information systems.

“With the signing of this law, our institutions are further strengthened, as you can now access all these services on a digital platform. You can also start and complete your payment in the portal provided. Recall that we have said that we are going to mobilise our domestic revenue and enhance the quality of services that we provide within the civil service space. So, what we have done here today is set up the legal framework that allows us to go ahead to implement that part of our manifesto,” the governor stated.

Mbah commended the House of Assembly for keying into and providing support for his administration’s development

“We can not progress, and we can not go on this journey without the support of the State House of Assembly. So, we want to thank you for the speedy passage of these executive bills,” he concluded