A concerned Ebonyian, Mr. Emenike Michael, has appealed to Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to revive the Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency (EB-CSDA) and urgently address the welfare of its staff, many of whom he said have gone without salaries for more than one year.
Michael, who identified himself in the open letter as a concerned Ebonyian, behaviorist and humanist, made the appeal in a letter addressed to the governor, urging him to preserve what he described as one of the state’s most successful grassroots development institutions.
He described the Agency as one of Ebonyi State’s most successful grassroots development institutions, noting that it had played a significant role in improving the lives of residents through World Bank-assisted community development programmes.
According to him, since its establishment under Ebonyi State law, the Agency has executed numerous projects across communities in the state, including the construction of schools, health centres, potable water facilities, rural electrification projects, erosion control measures, roads and markets.
He added that beyond physical infrastructure, the Agency promoted community participation by allowing residents to identify and prioritise their own developmental needs, thereby encouraging transparency, accountability and community ownership.
Michael said the Agency’s interventions benefited traditional rulers, town unions, women, youths, farmers, persons with disabilities, schools, health facilities and rural communities across Ebonyi State.
He further noted that the Agency’s performance earned it recognition as the Best Performing World Bank-Assisted Agency in Nigeria’s South-East, a feat he said brought pride to the state.
Recalling Governor Nwifuru’s previous interaction with the Agency before assuming office, Michael stated that the governor had engaged with the institution while serving as President of his community’s Town Union.
He, however, argued that the governor and some members of his administration might not have been fully acquainted with the Agency’s broader mandate and achievements.
“It is on this basis that I humbly appeal that you grant the Management of the Agency an opportunity to meet with you. Such an engagement will provide a clearer understanding of its operations, achievements, current challenges, and the value it can continue to add to your administration and the people of Ebonyi State,” he wrote.
Michael also expressed concern over the welfare of the Agency’s employees, alleging that many staff members had remained unpaid for more than a year despite their contributions to rural development.
“For over one year, many have remained without salaries. These are not strangers; they are Ebonyians who dedicated their lives to serving rural communities,” he said.
He added that the prolonged delay in salary payments had placed significant financial hardship on workers and their families.
“Behind every unpaid salary is a family struggling to survive—a child whose school fees remain unpaid, a parent unable to afford healthcare, and a household living in uncertainty,” he stated.
The concerned Ebonyian said he believed the situation did not reflect Governor Nwifuru’s style of leadership, suggesting that the full realities surrounding the Agency may not have been brought to the governor’s attention.
He argued that reviving the Agency would go beyond addressing workers’ welfare, saying it would strengthen grassroots development, attract development partners, create economic opportunities and preserve one of the state’s most impactful institutions.
Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” Michael said addressing the Agency’s challenges would align with the constitutional responsibility of government as well as the governor’s People’s Charter of Needs agenda.
He also referenced Proverbs 29:18, saying leadership involves preserving institutions that have consistently delivered results.
“History remembers leaders not only for the projects they initiated but also for the hope they restored and the institutions they strengthened,” Michael wrote. “I sincerely believe that your administration has the opportunity to revive this Agency, restore the dignity of its workers, and further cement your legacy as a Governor who listens, cares, and acts.”
He urged Governor Nwifuru to grant the Agency’s management an audience to present its achievements and challenges, give urgent attention to the payment of outstanding salaries owed to staff, and reposition the Agency to continue driving sustainable community development across Ebonyi State.