Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has charged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state government to meet the projected ₦870 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target for 2026, warning that growing global geopolitical tensions have made external revenue sources increasingly unpredictable.
Governor Mbah gave the charge on Monday during a Holy Mass at the Government House Chapel, which formally marked the commencement of work in all government offices for the new year.
He cautioned that Enugu State must not be caught unprepared by uncertainties surrounding inflows from sources such as the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), stressing the need to strengthen domestic revenue generation.
The governor recently signed a record ₦1.62 trillion 2026 budget, which he explained would be funded through ₦870 billion in IGR, ₦387 billion from FAAC, and ₦329 billion in capital receipts.
Addressing a congregation that included heads and members of the three arms of government, political office holders, captains of industry, traditional rulers, and other key stakeholders, Mbah urged political appointees and civil servants to redouble their efforts, noting that revenue growth depends largely on the quality and efficiency of public service delivery.
“Given all the geo-political tensions across the globe, it is not going to be easy, particularly with our revenue projections. We just do not have clarity as to the direction things would go. It is extremely important we ensure that we realise the domestic revenue projection we set for ourselves this year so that we are then able to absorb the shock coming from all these geo-political tensions across the globe,” he said.
“To realise that projection comes from doing your own bit. We have ambitious revenue targets across the different MDAs. Our revenue comes based on the speed and quality of services you render. Let us have a renewed vigour to do our own bit and play our own roles,” the governor added.
Mbah emphasised the critical role of the civil service in the success of his administration, describing public servants as the backbone of governance outcomes in the new year.
“Importantly, to our workers, we are still going to be counting on your support as civil servants and Permanent Secretaries. We have always said that you are the engine room of whatever success we achieve. We have to double down this year,” he said.
He added, “Those little things we do—getting to work on time, treating documents expeditiously, and making sure that we play our own part in the scheme of things—matter a lot. We also have to continue to be champions of teamwork. We have to essentially understand that we are only as good as our weakest link. We need to support one another, knowing that we are working for one common objective; to serve the people.”
While expressing gratitude to the people of Enugu State and the church for their continued prayers and support, the governor stressed the importance of honest feedback and accountability.
“We do not lay claim to being perfect. What we lay claim to is our resolve to serve the people optimally. That is why undiluted feedback and holding us to account become very important,” Mbah concluded.
In his homily, the Chaplain of the Government House Chapel, Rev. Fr. Anthony Udeh, described Governor Mbah as a servant-leader genuinely committed to the welfare of the people.
He cited the thousands of completed and ongoing projects as well as far-reaching reforms initiated by the Mbah administration, noting that such achievements reflect a leader driven by a deep passion to serve and to secure a better future for the state and coming generations.
The Holy Mass was attended by top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Afojulu Ozoemena; and the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, among many others.
