The Enugu government has constituted development centres across the state’s 17 council areas to deepen grassroots participation in governance and improve community engagement.

The appointments are contained in a statement issued by the secretary to the state government, Chidiebere Onyia, on Wednesday in Enugu.

Mr Onyia said Governor Peter Mbah approved the appointments to fill existing vacancies in the various development centres.

According to Mr Onyia, the initiative aims to strengthen grassroots participation in governance and decision-making while promoting inclusivity and broad-based representation.

He said the development centres would give communities effective channels to contribute to government programmes and policies and further deepen government’s reach at the local level.

Mr Onyia added that the appointments were also intended to facilitate greater community engagement and responsiveness and ensure meaningful participation of the people in the administration’s development agenda.

He said the newly constituted centres covered several local government areas, including Aninri, Awgu, Enugu East, Enugu North, Enugu South, Ezeagu, Igbo Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Isi-Uzo and Nkanu East, among others.

Mr Onyia stressed that each development centre comprises an administrator, secretary and members drawn from communities within the respective areas.

“In Aninri Local Government Area, the government constituted the Aninri East, Aninri North, Aninri South and Aninri West development centres. In Awgu, the Anike, Awgu, Mbanabo North and Mbanabo South development centres were constituted, while Enugu East has the Enugu East Central, Enugu East, Iyiukwu and Ujodo West development centres.

“Similarly, four development centres were constituted in each of Enugu North, Enugu South, Ezeagu, Igbo Etiti, Igbo-Eze North and Igbo-Eze South local government areas, with three centres constituted in Isi-Uzo,” he said.

He explained that the appointments included people from various communities, wards, and development areas, reflecting the government’s stated objective of broad-based grassroots representation.

Mr Onyia urged the appointees to contribute to effective coordination of development activities and strengthen the link between communities and government.

(NAN)