IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A WORKING GOVERNMENT BEFORE IN NIGERIA, COME TO ABIA NOW YOU WILL SEE ONE - NWASIR AGUWA.

NWASIR AGUWA WITH GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI

If You’ve Never Seen a Working Government Before in Nigeria, Come to Abia Now — Nwasir Aguwa

Introduction: A Bold Claim

Some statements demand attention. One of them recently attributed to Nwasir Aguwa says: “If you have never seen a working government before in Nigeria, come to Abia now, you will see one.” It’s not just a tagline — it’s a challenge, a boast, and perhaps a testimony to the changes people are perceiving in Abia State under its current leadership.

But what does it mean in practice? Is Abia really showing something new — a standard of governance that others lack? How much of this perception is based on hard outcomes, and how much on expectations or politics? Let’s dive in.

Background: What Was the Situation Of Abia Before Now?

To understand whether Abia is indeed “a working government,” one must see what “non‐working” government meant in the recent past.

• Infrastructure Decay: Before 2023, many roads in Aba and other towns were almost impassable; potholes, bad drainage, uncompleted flyovers and neglected hospitals were common. Thisdaylive+2Premium Times Nigeria+2

• Public Service Breakdown: There were months (even years) of salary arrears in education, health, and tertiary institutions. Teachers, lecturers, doctors often went unpaid. Thisdaylive

• Poor Health and Education Facilities: Some general hospitals lacked basic drugs. Schools were dilapidated. Thisdaylive+2Premium Times Nigeria+2

• Governance Issues: Accumulation of debt, ghost workers, defaulted obligations, low internally generated revenue. Thisdaylive+2Premium Times Nigeria+2

So, for many Abians, the benchmarks for “government that works” were not being met for years.

What Has Changed? What Are the Signs of a “Working Government” We Are Seeing?

Now, people point to several developments in Abia State under Governor Alex Otti (as of 2023 onward) that are contributing to the narrative that Abia is showing what “working” governance could look like.

1. Roads and Infrastructure Repair / Construction

   • Many roads in Aba, including major ones like Port Harcourt Road, Ohanku Road, Ndoki Road, Umuatako Road etc., have been renovated or reconstructed under the current administration. Though I am still expecting when that of Umuene to Umuikaa will finish and that of Umuikaa to Owerrinta. Premium Times Nigeria

   • The state government has undertaken a clean‐up in Aba, making the commercial hub more livable. Streets are being fixed, drainage improved. Sometimes when I come to Umuikaa, I see how the debris and refuse are beeing taken care of by the ASEPA team, unlike before. Premium Times Nigeria+1

2. Health, Education, and Service Delivery

   • There has been improvement in hospitals and clinics; though “improvement” is a spectrum, people report better access, more visible signs of functioning health facilities. Premium Times Nigeria

   • Schools are being renovated; government is paying attention to basic education. Premium Times Nigeria+1

3. Accountability and Ghost Workers

   • A government that is serious about governance has begun addressing issues like ghost workers, which had eaten into the budget for years. Prime Business+1

   • Pension arrears and salary arrears are being addressed more vigorously. Thisdaylive+1

4. New Government Ethos: Service Over Rhetoric

   • The tone from the Abia government is shifting: more emphasis on data, outcomes, visibility. Officials are being asked to deliver, not just to promise. Transparency is being invoked more often. ThemeForest+1

   • Citizens seem to sense responsiveness: roads fixed, electricity (or promises of better power), visible projects. Premium Times Nigeria

5. Revenue Initiatives & Financial Discipline

   • Internally generated revenue (IGR) is being taken more seriously — although this is a challenge across many states. Abia is attempting to reduce dependence on federal allocations by improving tax collection, plugging leakages. The Nation Newspaper+1

   • Budgeting appears more attuned to deliverables — paying for what is done rather than for “paper projects.” ThemeForest+1

Is It Perfect? What Are the Criticisms and Remaining Gaps?

Even “working governments” are not perfect, especially when transforming from dysfunction. Abia’s case is no different: there are legitimate criticisms, areas where expectations are yet unmet.

• Electricity for Rural Areas: Many villages around Umuehim, Nvosi etc. remain without reliable electricity. Some feel promises regarding power improvements have been slow or selective. The Nigeria Daily

• Transparency & Verification: While the government claims to have found ghost workers, published figures and audits are demanded to ensure claims are substantiated. Critics warn that announcements must match action. Prime Business

• Scale vs Visibility: Some projects, even when visible, may not be sufficient in number or reach. The difference between “road fixed here” and “systemic, sustainable infrastructure across the state” matters.

• Balance Between Urban and Rural: Many visible improvements are in Aba or Umuahia; rural local governments still lag behind in many cases in terms of access to health, education, electricity.

• Sustainability: Maintaining projects and infrastructure, dealing with recurring costs, ensuring that projects are not just showpieces but truly functional over time is a test.

Analysis: What Makes a “Working Government”?

What does it mean for a government to be “working”? It’s not about being flawless — few if any are — but about meeting some basic criteria:

1. Responsiveness: Government listens to citizens and addresses urgent issues (roads, sanitation, electricity).

2. Accountability and Transparency: Public budget shown, ghost workers removed, financial leakages addressed.

3. Service Delivery: Health, education, water, sanitation are provided at acceptable levels.

4. Infrastructure Development: Not just promises but ongoing, visible construction; maintained over time.

5. Rule of Law / fair practices: Clear bureaucratic processes; less corruption; fairly administered contracts; salaries paid.

6. Sustainability and Equity: Benefits across all parts of the state, including rural areas; projects not just in high visibility zones.

By those criteria, many would agree Abia is making strides toward “working government” more visibly than many other states.

Why the Statement Resonates

Why does the claim “come to Abia if you’ve never seen a working government in Nigeria” sound powerful and stick?

• Contrast Effect: Many Nigerians have grown used to broken promises, poor infrastructure, and invisible governance. When they see visible change — well‐paved roads, functioning hospitals, timely salary payments — it feels like a breath of fresh air.

• Psychological Hope: People need to believe that good governance is possible. When a state demonstrates it in practice, it becomes a reference point for what’s possible elsewhere.

• Political Branding: For leaders, the claim serves as a brand – “New Abia,” “working government,” doing things differently. It sets expectations and draws attention (both supporters and critics).

• Media Amplification: Journalists, advocacy groups, civil society pick up on changes and amplify them. When respected people (e.g. Senior Advocates, public commentators) say “I have never seen this in Abia before,” it adds credibility. Premium Times Nigeria

Case Examples: Concrete Results

Here are a few illustrative examples to show how the changes are more than just slogans:

• Port Harcourt Road, Aba: Once almost impassable, now reconstructed into a three‐lane carriageway. Premium Times Nigeria

• Multiple Roads Commissioned: Ohanku Road, Ndoki Road, Umuatako, Pepples Road, etc., have seen repair and upgrade. Premium Times Nigeria

• Schools and Hospitals: Renovation of schools; new or improved hospitals. Premium Times Nigeria+1

• Policy Shifts: Free compulsory basic education from January 2025. Wikipedia

These are not just signs; they are deliverables, things people can see, use, and judge.

What This Means for Nigeria

If Abia is making these kinds of improvements, what lessons or implications does that have for wider Nigeria?

1. Governor’s Discretion Matters: Leadership at the state level — willingness to prioritize, to manage resources prudently, to hold people accountable — can make a big difference.

2. Local Action is Key: Sometimes, change at the local/state level is more immediately felt than changes at the federal level.

3. Benchmarks (Positive Examples) are Necessary: When one place shows progress, it raises expectations elsewhere. It puts pressure on other states to do better, helps citizens demand more.

4. Managing Expectations: Citizens need to be part of the process — evaluating what is promised vs delivered; pushing back when promises lag; being aware of realism vs hyperbole.

5. Sustainability over Flashiness: Nigeria has seen many flashy projects that decay quickly. For a “working government,” maintaining, staffing, sustaining projects is just as important as initiating them.

So — Is Abia Now a “Working Government”?

The short answer: It depends on what you compare to, and how generous your definition is.

• By typical standards in many Nigerian states — especially where salaries go unpaid, roads go unbuilt, health facilities non‐functional — yes, Abia is showing a level of responsiveness, visibility, and performance that many people can recognize.

• There remain significant gaps, particularly in rural inclusion, utilities like electricity, full transparency, long‐term maintenance, etc.

• Abia isn’t perfect, but many people are justified when they point to Abia as a place where governance is being felt in ways that were missing for a long time.

Conclusion: Moving Forward, with Eyes Open

So, yes — the statement “If you have never seen a working government, come to Abia now” carries weight. It is not simply rhetorical flourish; there is evidence to back up that perception for many.

But for Abia (and other states wanting to claim this mantle), the work is not over. What will matter even more:

• Ensuring that even remote villages are not left behind (in electricity, water, healthcare).

• Maintaining infrastructure so that roads don’t go to ruin again.

• Deepening transparency: regular audits, budget releases, stakeholder reviews.

• Keeping up the momentum so that projects move from being visible to being truly embedded in people’s daily lives.

If these happen, Abia could become not just one example of “a working government,” but a model — something others can study, adapt, and perhaps replicate.

Finally

• Bold statements like that of Nwasir Aguwa are risky — but they invite accountability. If you make the claim, you must live up to it. By many accounts, Abia is doing just that more visibly than we’ve seen in many states.

• For citizens, this is not a moment to rest. Good governance is not a one‐time act; it’s a continuous process.

• For Nigeria, Abia is offering hope. And in a country where many feel cynical about what governments can deliver, hope backed by action is a powerful thing.

Please if you agree with me let me know from the comment section, if you didn't agree kindly let me know also but with reasons. Thanks for reading my blog - Nwasir Aguwa.

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