Civic Accountability · Nigeria

NGScorecard

Previously in Ebonyi:
Term report
4
Inherited problems
1
Fixed
3
Partial progress
Fixed
Partial progress
Governance
A 25-year backlog of unpaid gratuities and pensions
Fixed
The problem
Retired civil and public servants in Ebonyi State were owed gratuities and pension arrears dating back to 1996—spanning nearly three decades and multiple administrations. The backlog had become a source of severe hardship for elderly retirees and a persistent moral stain on the state's governance record.
What was done
The Nwifuru administration approved ₦4.3 billion in 2023 and commenced systematic payment of arrears to retirees from 1996 to 2021. A verification committee led by Prof. Adeline Idike was constituted, and by October 2025, the government had extended payments to local government retirees from 1996 to 2025 across all 13 LGAs. The governor introduced a policy allowing prospective retirees to proceed on leave three months early to process documentation, ensuring prompt payment upon retirement.
Infrastructure
Dilapidated education and health infrastructure
Partial
The problem
Ebonyi State's schools and healthcare facilities were poorly equipped, with pupils learning in substandard classrooms and general hospitals lacking modern diagnostic equipment. The state had no specialised university for ICT or aviation.
What was done
The administration constructed 39 model secondary schools, established the University of ICT at Oferekpe Agbaja and the University of Aviation at Ezza, equipped 13 general hospitals with MRI machines, recruited 195 medical officers, and upgraded primary healthcare centres statewide. However, teacher shortages and uneven facility quality persisted across the 13 LGAs.
Finance
Low internally generated revenue and fiscal dependence
Partial
The problem
Ebonyi State historically ranked among the states with the lowest IGR in Nigeria, leaving it heavily dependent on federal statutory allocations which were themselves modest due to the state's small population and limited economic base.
What was done
The administration implemented revenue reforms through the Ebonyi State Internal Revenue Service, grew monthly IGR to a record ₦2.1 billion by December 2025, and achieved a 100 percent score in the 2025 Budget Fiscal Transparency League. However, IGR still constituted a small fraction of the state's ambitious budget, and the state remained dependent on FAAC.
Security
Protracted communal conflicts and boundary disputes
Partial
The problem
Multiple communities in Ebonyi State were engaged in long-standing land disputes and communal clashes, with nearly 10 communities in active conflict before the 2023 inauguration. The state also faced incursions by armed herdsmen.
What was done
The administration created the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, engaged community leaders and traditional institutions, and reportedly resolved many conflicts. However, the January 2026 Okporojo massacre in Edda LGA—where four people were beheaded by suspected herdsmen—exposed the limits of these efforts and triggered a severe governance crisis in the Amasiri axis.