A professor of Public Administration at Georgia Southern University, Godwin Okafor, has praised the taxation policy and developmental projects of Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah, describing the administration’s tax system as liberal when compared with the level of infrastructure and public services being delivered across the state.
According to a statement shared online, Okafor said he independently engaged residents during a recent visit to Enugu by boarding commercial buses and speaking with drivers and passengers about the state’s taxation system and governance.
After his observations and discussions, the professor reportedly concluded that residents of Enugu are “paying little and enjoying more dividends than any state in Nigeria,” citing ongoing road construction projects, subsidized healthcare services, free smart schools, transportation infrastructure, water projects, and security investments across the state.
He pointed to major road projects such as the Abakpa to Nsukka dual carriageway, Amechi-Idodo to Obollo-Afor road in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu to Abakaliki road, and the Ninth Mile to Uzo Uwani rural road network as examples of the administration’s infrastructure drive.
Okafor also highlighted the state government’s youth empowerment initiatives, including skills acquisition programmes and start-up support for entrepreneurs through the Enugu MSME scheme, noting that such projects could not be sustained through federal allocations alone.
The professor further argued that taxation remains essential for governance worldwide, warning residents against politicians who promise to abolish taxes if elected.
“It’s deceitful and unrealistic for any politician to tell the people they will not collect taxes. No government anywhere in the world can function without taxation,” he reportedly stated.
The statement concluded with a call for residents to continue supporting the administration, while encouraging people to identify projects being executed within their communities across Enugu State.
