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GOVERNOR UGWUANYI BREAKS ANOTHER RECORD: THICKENING HIS BOND WITH THE JUDICIARY, THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
It was Robert Schuller the German author of the award-winning bestseller ‘Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do’ who famously postulated that tough times no matter how harsh would always come and go when tough people are in charge. This admirable witticism becomes even more pertinent when tough leaders presiding over tough times are also endowed with rare humanitarian attributes such as milk of human kindness, fear of God, love, altruism, empathy and open-handedness.
To such leaders, tough times neither provide excuses for nonperformance nor embolden them to shirk their otherwise sacred obligations and responsibilities to their people. Rather, it provides a historic opportunity to touch lives in a very special way and in a manner that stands them out as go-getters, trailblazers, and lords over their tough situations.
Barely six months after the silent archiving Governor of Enugu State Rt. Hon. Lawrence Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi broke a continental record by being the first African pillar of sports to fund a football club’s life assurance scheme to the extent of dolling out a whooping life assurance package of #20 million( through Rangers International) to its maiden beneficiary, the welfarist Governor has scored yet another first. He has this time approved and released a staggering sum of #24.6 million to as many as 246 law students of Enugu state origin at the Nigeria Law School. Under the novel humongous package, each benefitting student received the sum of #100,000( one hundred thousand naira only) to cushion the hardship he or she undergoes while in the nation’s elite school of jurisprudence.
By this gesture, Governor Ugwuanyi has once again gone down in history as the very first occupant of the lion building to offer such a lifeline to law students and the second after Chief Jim Nwobodo as Governor of the old Anambra state to pay bursary to students.
It would be recalled that both the Rangers’ life assurance feat earlier referred to as well as the law students’ novel intervention, took place between the months of June and July this year when the Coroner pandemic was at its peak, virtually crippling the entire world economy. A very critical time when some oil-producing states joined many other states to owe workers’ salaries thereby compounding the misery in a countless number of homes.
Not so for Enugu state by courtesy of a tenderhearted and empathetic leader in the person of Governor Lawrence Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi who God brought just at the right time to save his people from anguish. No wonder the slogan that Enugu state under Governor Ugwuanyi is in the hands of God is hardly ever controvertible. Aside from paying regularly the most decent new minimum wage East of the Niger despite the pandemic meltdown and with paltry receipts from low oil revenue, the amiable Governor also found it necessary to remember as many as 246 indigent law students of Enugu state origin some of whom would have dropped out and ended their dreams of becoming lawyers had he not graciously and providentially intervened.
Those conversant with the environment of the law school would readily attest to the fact that the knowledge-intensive, highly revered, and the regimented institution has always been systemically programmed to prevent poor students from gaining access( or graduating even after admission) as it is often the mantra of law lecturers right from the university that the legal profession is jealously reserved for the noble and not for everybody.
To ensure that the exclusion and elimination conspiracy is sustained, it now takes a minimum of #2 million or thereabouts for a law school student to graduate from the yearlong professional programme. That excludes books and materials of different colorations and which is in fact the student’s business and no one else’s. Many law graduates for that reason do not bother to apply for admission into the institution to obtain a professional certificate and make do with their law degrees( LLB Hons.) which at best makes them academic lawyers.
It is against this background that many forward-looking people see what Governor Ugwuanyi did for the law students of Enugu state origin as highly remarkable, legendary, and humanitarian in ramifications. The 246 law students favoured will forever remain grateful to the tender-hearted Governor who God placed on the saddle during their own time to enjoy a privilege their predecessors never had.
The questions many have been asking since the Governor’s landmark gesture include: how come all the previous Governors before Ugwuanyi turned deaf ears to the hearty supplications of the poor law school students over the years despite the huge oil revenues at their disposal compared to the pitiable situation today? Did they not take into account the fact that such strategic intervention was absolutely necessary to beef up the state’s judicial manpower thereby placing it in a position of strength to compete for federal judicial appointments?
That’s a matter for another day.
Nevertheless, this gives credence to the protestations by well-meaning people that good governance goes beyond the mere provision of basic physical infrastructure( such as roads and bridges) but extends most importantly to the development of the human capital and without which both the government, the road or bridge contractor as well as laborers hired, all labour in vain as the human capital is indispensable to the management and continuous enjoyment of whatever is provided.
This latest welfarist intervention has therefore not only added to Governor Ugwuanyi’s many firsts in many areas but also singled him out as one of the greatest pillars of the judiciary not only in the state but also the country at large. From the unprecedented mass construction of judicial complexes in all the local government areas( being completed at the same time) of the state including brand new ultra-modern High and Magistrate court buildings, state-of-the-art Customary Court of Appeal complex situated at the three arms zone of the coal city, ongoing renovation of the state judicial headquarters, to the engagement of many new High Court judges and magistrates as well as over 150 law officers to quicken the dispensation of criminal justice and decongest the prisons, the Enugu state judiciary, in particular, has never had it so good.
From Josephat Omeke Esq. Writing from Enugu
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Presidency Refutes Afenifere’s Deceitful Statement on President Bola Tinubu’s Midterm:
Chief Sunday Dare
The statement from a factional Afenifere group raises serious concerns about a penchant and deliberate attempt to find faults and trade in deceit instead of objectivity. The group has found it challenging to accept that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s comeback story is firmly underway.
The rebellious Afenifere claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s performance over the past two years has witnessed a regression in human development, economic mismanagement, and democratic backsliding.
This is a jaundiced view, echoing the view of opposition politicians, one of whom the group supported in the 2023 election.
A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture, with significant achievements amid the challenges expected from a country like Nigeria with decades-old problems.
Beyond its confounding conclusions based on prejudice, the statement raises the following issues. With the ensuing point-by-point clarification, it will become clear that the group’s position is neither grounded in facts nor logic.
- Economic Reforms and Their Impact
The factional Afenifere’s claim that Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, have led to “unmitigated sufferings” and “economic deforms” seeks to draw attention to some of the challenges but overlooks the macroeconomic gains. The removal of the fuel subsidy, announced on May 29, 2023, saved the government over $10 billion in 2023 alone, reducing fiscal strain and redirecting funds to other sectors. Unifying the foreign exchange market and the naira’s floatation aimed to address distortions in the currency market, boosted foreign reserves to $38.1 billion by 2024 and achieved a trade surplus of N18.86 trillion for the country.
Under the Tinubu administration, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 23.71% in April 2025 from 24.23% in the prior month. Food inflation, the most significant component of the inflation basket, remained elevated but moderated to 21.26% from 21.79%
While these figures indicate stabilisation, the immediate impact on ordinary Nigerians is not lost. The government’s cash transfer programme, which provides funds to the poorest households and benefits over 5.7 million households, is a credible outreach.
However, dismissing the twin policies as “unforced errors” ignores the unsustainable nature of the previous subsidy regime and multiple exchange rate systems, which were draining public finances. A more balanced critique would acknowledge the necessity of reform while emphasising the need for better-targeted social safety nets.
As of today, the Tinubu administration has recorded over 900,000 beneficiaries of the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, over 600,000 beneficiaries of the Students’ Loan Scheme, NELFUND, N70,000 minimum wage, NYSC monthly stipend increase from N33,000 to N77,000, Free CNG kits distributed to thousands of commercial drivers across Nigeria with CNG buses rolled out in partnership with state governments, leading to a significant drop in transport costs. The administration also recorded over $10 Billion FX debt cleared, Federal account allocation to states growing by 60%, enabling more local development projects, N50 billion released to end the perennial ASUU strikes, and over 1,000 PHCs revitalised nationwide with an additional 5,500 undergoing upgrades.
The administration also disbursed N75 Billion in palliative funds to states and LGs for food distribution and cash transfers, over 150,000 youths are being trained in software development, tech support and data analysis under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) project, over 20,000 affordable housing units under construction under the renewed Hope cities program launched across Nigeria, N200 Billion in Loans to farmers and agro-processors. Other gains: over two million Nigerians are now connected to new digital infrastructure and community broadband hubs and public WiFi projects, 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024 (highest in 3 years), over $50 Billion in new FDI Commitments, Net Foreign Exchange Reserves up from $3.99 Billion (2023) to $23.11 Billion (2024), over $8 Billion in new oil and gas investments unlocked, and over $800 million realised in processing investments in solid minerals in 2024 and inflation as at April was down to 23.17%.
It is now pertinent to inquire from opposition leaders about alternative strategies they would propose in contrast to this administration’s extensive list of significant achievements currently benefiting Nigerians in real-time.
- Cost of Governance and the Oronsaye Report
The assertion that the Tinubu administration has failed to implement the Oronsaye Report and instead increased governance costs is inaccurate. The Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger or scrapping of government agencies to reduce expenditure, has not been fully implemented and has drawn criticisms; it must be noted, however, that the administration has made some efforts to improve fiscal discipline. The fiscal deficit was reduced from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, and the debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024. The government also recorded over N6 trillion in revenue in Q1 2025, partly due to removing Ways & Means financing and fuel subsidies. These steps demonstrate fiscal prudence and will eventually translate into immediate, tangible relief for citizens. The administration is working earnestly to address these optics and prioritise cost-cutting measures, including implementing the Oronsaye Report, to restore public trust.
- Allegations of Prebendalism and Corruption
Afenifere’s claim that the administration favours “the privileged and connected” through corrupt palliative distribution and mega-project allocations is questionable. Reports of palliatives being mismanaged or distributed through unverified channels have no doubt surfaced, raising concerns about transparency.
The administration has taken steps against corruption, such as suspending Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu in January 2024 over alleged fund diversion, signalling some commitment to accountability. Critics may argue that more systemic action is needed, but dismissing all the efforts as propaganda overlooks these initial steps.
Without abusing Presidential powers, the administration is working on expediting action on all pending investigations and prosecution of corrupt practices. At the same time, critical agencies are collating credible evidence on ongoing corruption litigations. It must, however, be noted that in 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a record-breaking 4,111 convictions, marking its most successful year since its inception. They recovered over N364 billion and significant amounts in foreign currencies, including $214.5 Million, $54,318.64, and 31,265 Euros.
The EFCC achieved its single most significant asset recovery in 2025, with the final forfeiture of an Abuja estate measuring 150,500 square meters and containing 725 units of duplexes and other apartments. The EFCC concluded the final forfeiture and handed the estate to the Ministry of Housing in May 2025.
- Democratic Concerns and Centralisation
Afenifere’s accusation that the Tinubu administration is pursuing a “one-party state totalitarianism” and undermining democratic institutions is unsupported and lacks merit. The claim of neutralising the legislature and judiciary is also a false alarm.
The public should note that the Supreme Court has upheld opposition victories in states like Kano, Plateau, and Abia, suggesting judicial independence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faced criticism for allegedly appointing individuals said to be ruling party affiliates, but no evidence confirms these appointees are card-carrying APC members.
The allegation that the Tinubu government cracks down on peaceful protesters is primarily unfounded. It is a regurgitated rhetoric deployed under previous administrations as a reflection of broader challenges in Nigeria’s democratic culture.
The issue of the State Police is more complex than the oversimplified approach of the factional Afenifere’s statement. Every administration policy is subject to security impact assessment before implementation, and there is a difference between the State Police being widely advocated and a Police State that critics may blame the Federal Government for if implemented without caution.
- Security and Social Welfare
Contrary to the impression created, the administration’s security record is impressive. Over 13,500 terrorists, bandits, and insurgents have been neutralised and 7,000 arrested in the past year, though there is still some news of abductions and violent attacks. The administration’s proactive response to security-related matters has paved the way for more farmers to return to their farms, impacting food production and supply.
The administration also embarked on agricultural initiatives, including tractor procurement, fertiliser distribution, and increased mechanisation.
The government has also not relented on its Regional Development drive as the administration succeeded in establishing Development Commissions across 6 Geopolitical zones (South West, North West, North Central. North East, South East and the Niger Delta) to empower communities and accelerate developments.
- Political Climate and 2027 Elections
The claims of government-sponsored conflicts within opposition parties lack concrete evidence and should be ignored.
Economic reforms are undoubtedly laying the foundation for long-term stability, with GDP growth at 4.6% in Q4 2024 and a Fitch B credit rating upgrade as evidence. Moody’s Investors Service’s latest upgrade of Nigeria’s rating from Caa1 to B3, with a Stable Outlook, indicates that the Tinubu administration is on the right path.
The government is not oblivious to some discontent and difficult times among Nigerians. There is an urgency to deliver more tangible results, which is guaranteed given the impressive performance of the administration in just two years.
Afenifere’s statement saw the cup as half empty. On the contrary, it’s half full. Under President Tinubu’s administration, some of Nigeria’s hydra-headed problems are being tackled headlong.
The administration has achieved fiscal improvements, such as reduced deficits and increased revenues, which will eventually translate into meaningful microeconomic relief for most Nigerians in the short term, even as the government moves to address these issues with greater empathy and transparency.
The administration’s demonstrable priorities are securing the nation, fixing the economy, and improving human capital development.
Responsible citizens and political leaders must work collaboratively with the administration to address the challenges and counter disinformation, as highlighted in the admonition against fake news and deceptive AI videos.
Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is turning the corner. From stabilising the naira and curbing inflation to reducing debt burdens and
expanding access to education and health, the administration delivers bold reforms with actual results. With improved security, regional inclusion, anti-corruption measures, and institutional rebuilding, Nigeria’s comeback story is not yet complete — but it is firmly underway.
– Sunday Dare is the Special Adviser to Mr. President on Media and Public Communications.
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