By Chidi Dike
The Enugu State Government has constituted a standing committee for property and land reconciliation and compensation with the mandate to review all title documents, construction approvals, double and wrongful allocations and double certificates of occupancy, and evaluate compensations in respect of government’s acquired lands, among other functions.
This was even as residents of the state welcomed the development as timely and commendable, insisting that the governor has begun to restore hope, justice and confidence in government.
Inaugurating the committee over the weekend in Enugu on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, charged members to be resolute, fair, transparent and show integrity which, he said, were the conditions for their appointment.
Onyia, who will Also serve as Committee Chairman said its terms of reference should be implemented to strictly, adding that the procedures adopted must pass the tests of integrity, accountability, traceability, transparency, and fairness to all parties regardless of status.
The committee known as Inter-Ministerial Committee for Property/Land Reconciliation and Compensation in Enugu State is saddled with the responsibilities of verifying all title documents relating to lands and property in any designated area assigned for construction; verifying all construction approvals and stages of construction; reconciling all issues of double allocations, wrongful allocation, double certificates of occupancy; evaluation and payment of compensations in respect of any acquisition; resolving issues of acquisition and recommending amount of compensation to be paid, and verifying allocations and payment made as a result of the allocations.
Part of the functions of the committee is to also verify construction within the Enugu International Conference Centre (ICC) and other government’s facilities.
Responding on behalf of other committee members, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said the committee would not disappoint the public in the discharge of its duties as it would ensure social equity and justice, adding that all issues would be treated with utmost sense of responsibility.
“We accept it with every sense of responsibility, and we understand how sensitive it is. We understand that if this committee does its work well, that the members of the state that have been affected will heave a sigh of relief because all their interests, whatever be their concerns, whatever be their fears when channelled through this committee will be fully addressed; addressed from the point of social equity; addressed from the point of the rule of law; addressed from the magnanimity of a father to do good to his household.”
While appreciating the governor for trusting the committee with such responsibility, Dr. Udeh said Governor Mbah had been playing the role of a compassionate father with the interests of everyone in the state accommodated, saying “The Governor is the father of the state, Enugu State is the household. Every person in this state has been considered in envisioning the development that His Excellency is pursuing through different agencies of this government”.
He further called on aggrieved persons to channel their grievances to the committee, faying justice would be done within time.
“It is on that note that we invite the members of the public that may feel aggrieved or affected by this to please come forward; come forward with genuine cases, genuine concerns, genuine claims, and through this committee the administration of Dr. Peter Mbah will address them because it is for the general good”.
Other members of the committee include the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Development and Implementation, Arc. Uchenna Nwatu, the State Acting Surveyor General, Mr. Justus Chime, a representative of Estate/Valuation Department, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal and Inter-Ministerial Matters who also doubles as Secretary of the Committee, Barr. Julliet Okonkwo.
