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.
A Heartfelt Appeal to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru: Please Revive the Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency
Your Excellency,
My name is Mr. Emenike Michael, a concerned citizen, a behaviorist, and a humanist.
With utmost respect and a deep sense of responsibility, I humbly appeal to your compassionate heart to revive the Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency (EB-CSDA)—an institution whose contributions to the development of our dear state remain unparalleled.
For many years, the agency served as a beacon of hope to rural communities across the thirteen Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State. Through its community-driven projects, it provided potable water, hand-pump boreholes, schools, health centres, bridges, rural electrification, erosion control, and many other life-changing interventions. Indeed, countless Ebonyians have benefited directly or indirectly from the agency’s remarkable work.
Today, however, the same agency that once brought hope to our rural communities is itself crying for survival.
Our rural dwellers are longing for the return of the agency. They remember the transformation it brought to their communities and continue to ask when development of that nature will return. Their cry is not merely for projects; it is a cry for hope, dignity, and a better future.
Equally heartbreaking is the plight of the agency’s dedicated staff. For well over a year, many have remained without salaries despite years of faithful service. Families are struggling, children are sent home from school, medical needs go unmet, and many hardworking officers silently endure emotional pain, frustration, depression, and financial hardship. Those who laboured to improve the lives of others now find themselves in desperate need of compassion.
Your Excellency, beyond the human suffering lies another painful reality. The continued inactivity of this agency places Ebonyi State at risk of losing valuable opportunities for World Bank and other development partner-supported projects. These are opportunities capable of bringing more rural infrastructure, poverty reduction programmes, youth and women empowerment initiatives, and sustainable community development to our people. A functional agency is a gateway to these life-changing interventions.
Your Excellency, I make this appeal without political sentiment or personal gain. It is simply the voice of conscience, pleading that an institution which has served Ebonyi State with distinction should not be allowed to fade away, and that the men and women who devoted their lives to serving our people should not be forgotten.
I respectfully appeal to your fatherly heart to revive the Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency, restore hope to its staff, and reopen the doors of development to our rural communities.
May history remember your administration as one that not only built infrastructure but also restored hope, protected lives, and strengthened institutions for the benefit of generations yet unborn.
May Almighty God continue to grant Your Excellency wisdom, good health, and the grace to lead Ebonyi State to greater heights.
Respectfully,
Mr. Emenike Michael
Concerned Citizen, Behaviorist, and Humanist