By Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor
According to Enugu State law, a President General typically refers to an elected or appointed leader of an autonomous community or a traditional council, responsible for overseeing community development, maintaining law and order, and representing the community’s interests.
The function of President-Generals in grassroots development, governance, and community mobilization cannot be overemphasized. Most times, they are the liaison between communities and government, as they enable the rural dwellers to understand government policies and programmes in order to participate actively.
In Enugu State, the Traditional Rulers Law, as well as the Revised Laws of Enugu 2004, made small insights into the establishment of this institution, their roles, as well as other critical things. This shows the importance this office holds in governance, especially for the grassroots. One cannot reach out to any community without first going through their President-General or traditional ruler. That is why when there is a need for a new traditional ruler, they are mostly in charge of organizing it in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters.
It is very appalling that this institution is not just neglected but also impoverished in Enugu State by our local government chairmen. According to available reports, in Enugu, the PGs are paid a paltry sum of ₦30,000 monthly to run their affairs by the local government, which is done either directly or through the State Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters. This paltry sum is even not paid as and when due, owing to how heartless some of our elected grassroots leaders can be. These are people that are always on the road, running helter-skelter to get things done for their community and government. They are always on the road taking risks for people who don’t care about them.
A few years ago, when Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah wanted to embark on smart projects across the 260 political wards, it was still these people that ensured that lands were donated, which enabled the projects to kickstart earnestly. In some communities where their PG is not active, it was shifted to another community or delayed. Some communities whose own started on time—the PGs are also maligned and accused of land grabbing, which would linger between him and the families involved till generations to come. They go through all this stress, and yet, the government cannot pay them their ₦30,000 as and when due. It is inhuman, grotesque, and thus, not acceptable.
Local government areas such as Igbo Etiti, Oji River, and Uzo Uwani are alleged to be owing their PGs over 12 months of salary arrears. Others such as Igboeze North, Ezeagu, and so on are still owing. It is very rare to see any local government in Enugu State that is not owing the salaries of their PGs. This is not up to the amount of money they spend on traveling because some LGAs have less than 40 President-Generals under their payroll.
Recently, PGs have become objects of attacks by unknown gunmen and criminals, which are underreported or not even reported. For instance, on the 6th of October 2024, Chief Osita Okoye, the President-General of Amador-Ugbawka, was murdered in broad daylight. The news was hidden for days before it was nonchalantly announced. It took the efforts of the younger brother to the deceased, Chief Amechi Okoye, to get the needed publicity on the death of this PG. On Thursday, the 3rd of April 2025, Chief Osita Mambo, the President-General of Obuoffia community in Awkunanaw, was murdered by gunmen suspected to be assassins. It was not reported until anti-Mbah Sahara Reporters carried the news. There are also assassination attempts on PGs, as well as physical assaults that happen on a daily basis, which are either not reported or neglected.
While some of these attacks are caused by the PGs who would connive and sell off their community assets without due consultations with the people, or get involved with some illegal activities whose proceeds are not shared, it is also important for all to understand that the majority of these unfortunate incidents stem from the failure of the state government to institutionalize the office of the President-General as a serious administrative pillar. The absence of a structured and enforceable welfare scheme for PGs has left many vulnerable, easily manipulated, and abandoned. Without any form of insurance, legal protection, or formal security, these grassroots leaders are left to face the music alone, even when acting on behalf of the state. Their murders, kidnappings, and daily humiliations are simply treated as community matters and never get the deserved attention from government quarters.
More so, the state government must take full responsibility for the general lack of orientation, monitoring, and accountability in the operations of PGs across Enugu. The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs appears to be more interested in settling political scores and installing loyal PGs rather than empowering functional and respected community leaders. The lack of a comprehensive training and retraining program, weak audit of PG activities, and poor synergy with security agencies have all contributed to the rising tensions and breakdown of trust in several communities. If a structured code of conduct, operational funding, and quarterly reporting templates were implemented and enforced, many of the current crises plaguing our town unions would be avoided.
As a matter of urgency, the Enugu State Government must stop treating PGs as political tools or expendable field officers. A proper legislation or policy directive should be enacted to increase their monthly stipends to a realistic and livable wage, with periodic reviews. Local government chairmen should be held accountable and audited regularly to ensure timely payment and resource allocation to town unions. Beyond financial compensation, the state must deploy community-based security systems, legal support, and welfare protection for all registered PGs. This is the only way to maintain peace, mobilize true grassroots participation in governance, and protect those who are daily exposed to danger for simply loving and serving their people. Anything short of this is not only unfair; it is wicked.