By Rt Hon. Paul Nnajiofor
It is evident that under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the relationship between the executive and legislative branches in Enugu State has reached unprecedented harmony. Assembly members have lauded the Governor’s infrastructure initiatives and governance style, demonstrating a shared commitment to state development rather than partisan rivalry. This cooperation was further manifested by the presentation and smooth passage of over 18 executive bills—15 of which have become law—underscoring a legislative–executive synergy essential for effective policymaking. By treating the branches not as adversaries but as complementary pillars, Governor Mbah has reinforced the principle that “one government though with many arms,” ensuring that the separation of powers enhances rather than impedes governance. Just as a bird cannot fly on one wing alone, a state cannot thrive when its arms work in isolation; Mbah’s administration exemplifies how cohesive action across branches of government yields effective and sustainable progress.
For emphasis, Governor Peter Mbah recognizes that effective governance depends on the harmony of the three arms of government—Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary—each of which must be strong yet interdependent to discharge its functions fully. In line with systems theory, government functions as a system composed of independent but interrelated subsystems that thrive in a symbiotic relationship; any defect or antagonism in one subsystem weakens the entire structure. In line with this, section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, vests legislative power in the House of Assembly, charging it with “making laws for the peace, order and good government” of the state, and underscores the Legislature’s role in maintaining the balance of power. To cement this tripod, Governor Mbah inaugurated a three-day pre-inauguration workshop for the 24 members-elect, emphasizing that “both the Executive and the Legislature owe the people good governance and dividends of democracy” and pledged a healthy working partnership aimed at quality service delivery.
Further consolidating this relationship, Governor Mbah publicly extolled the virtues of the Enugu State House of Assembly under Speaker Uche Ugwu, lauding the assembly’s “uncommon legislative qualities” and the “most robust and smooth” parliamentary relationship with the Executive, which he credited for rapid passage of Executive bills and visible dividends of democracy across the state. By fostering mutual respect, rigorous legislative scrutiny, and timely passage of bills, Governor Mbah ensures that neither arm oversteps its bounds, but rather collaborates to sustain a stable environment where laws are both well-crafted and efficiently implemented, ultimately advancing the welfare of Enugu citizens.
Governor Peter Mbah has also taken proactive steps to strengthen the relationship between the executive and the legislature, recognizing that while Sections 5 and 6 of the 1999 Constitution clearly vest implementation powers in the executive and interpretative functions in the judiciary, effective governance requires more than mere separation of powers—it demands functional collaboration. Drawing on the classical model of governance, which was institutionalized by thinkers like Baron de Montesquieu and John Locke and later elaborated by American founders through mechanisms such as checks and balances, Mbah has instituted regular intergovernmental forums, joint budget workshops, and legislative consultation sessions. Through these initiatives, the governor ensures that executive policies are shaped by legislative input and that legislators are fully apprised of the logistical and financial realities of policy execution, effectively bridging the constitutional gap between making and implementing laws. This concerted effort targeted at fostering mutual respect and cooperation aligns with broader theoretical and practical insights on legislature-executive relations in presidential systems. By institutionalizing structured engagements—such as quarterly performance reviews and co-development of governance scorecards—Mbah has not only improved transparency and accountability but also reduced gridlock and fostered shared ownership of policy outcomes. This collaborative framework honours the independence of each arm while promoting synergy, thereby translating the eighteenth-century ideal of separated yet interdependent powers into a modern blueprint for sustainable development and good governance.
Thus, the doctrine of separation of powers, rooted in the conviction that unchecked authority breeds tyranny, underpins Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to a robust executive–legislature partnership. Recognizing James Madison’s insight that “if men were angels, no government would be necessary”, the governor inaugurated a three-day pre-inauguration workshop for the 24 members-elect of the Enugu State House of Assembly to deepen their grasp of legislative procedures and align on governance goals. By personally pledging that “the executive under my leadership will work in collaboration with all arms of government to deliver good governance to our people”, Mbah set a tone of mutual respect and shared responsibility, ensuring both branches understand that they “owe the people of the state good governance and dividends of democracy”.
Building on this foundation, Governor Mbah has publicly lauded the legislative leadership as an essential partner in development, extolling Speaker Uche Ugwu’s “uncommon legislative qualities and astute character” and emphasizing that “there is no executive bill we sent to the House of Assembly that they did not pass after rigorous scrutiny and debate, nor did they not pass it in record time”. This “robust symbiotic relationship,” he asserted, has already translated into tangible “dividends of democracy in terms of growth and development” across Enugu State, illustrating how effective checks and balances can accelerate policy implementation and foster sustained socio-economic progress.
Under the 1999 Constitution, the legislative power of each State is vested in its House of Assembly, while the executive authority rests with the Governor. The State Assembly may originate bills, but the Governor can also submit executive bills for legislative consideration. Once a bill is passed—whether initiated by the Assembly or the Governor—it requires the Governor’s assent under Section 58 before becoming law; similarly, appropriation bills demand gubernatorial assent under Section 59. If the Governor withholds assent, the Assembly may override the veto by repassing the measure with a two-thirds majority, at which point it automatically becomes law, reflecting the deliberate balance of independence and interdependence within the lawmaking process.
Governor Peter Mbah has actively leveraged this constitutional framework to foster a collaborative executive-legislature partnership. Shortly after his election, he inaugurated a three-day workshop to accustom the 24 members-elect to legislative procedures and underscore the importance of working hand-in-hand with the Executive for quality governance. He has since submitted well-crafted executive bills that have regularly received prompt passage and assent, evidencing mutual trust and shared commitment to service delivery. Over the past year, this synergy has yielded decisive action on critical sectors—from the dramatic increase in potable water availability and the rollout of Smart Green Schools to enhanced security command centres—demonstrating how constitutional mechanisms, when actively managed, can translate into tangible dividends of democracy for citizens.
Additionally, under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s leadership, the 8th Enugu State House of Assembly has demonstrated remarkable legislative productivity by passing 28 substantive bills spanning health, education, infrastructure, and security, alongside over 20 motions of urgent public importance aimed at improving governance and accelerating service delivery to citizens. He has assented to 24 of the 28 laws passed by the State Assembly under this current dispensation, demonstrating an unprecedented 86% assent rate that exemplifies the healthiest working partnership between the Executive and Legislature in Enugu State’s recent history. This legislative dynamism reflects a deeply collaborative executive–legislature partnership, one that Governor Mbah himself has praised for its robustness and efficiency—highlighting that no executive bill has stalled in committee and that each measure receives rigorous debate and swift approval, often within record time.
Complementing this legislative agenda, the Assembly has meticulously screened and confirmed the governor’s nominees for key executive and regulatory roles, including commissioners, special advisers, and the leadership of statutory boards and commissions such as the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, the Enugu State Judicial Commission, and the Enugu State Local Government Service Commission. These confirmations ensure that all critical agencies are helmed by qualified professionals aligned with the administration’s development vision, reinforcing accountability and coherence across government. Through this dynamic collaboration, essential reforms—including budgetary amendments, environmental regulations, and social welfare statutes—have been enacted swiftly and effectively, thereby reinforcing the capacity of both arms to deliver quality governance and tangible development outcomes for citizens.
Furthermore, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mandates an interdependent relationship for high judicial appointments, obliging the Governor to nominate the Chief Judge upon recommendation by the State Judicial Service Commission, followed by confirmation by the State House of Assembly under Section 231. This constitutional provision, along with the Legislature’s indispensable role in approving treaties, budget appropriations, and oversight of executive initiatives, underscores the necessity of sustained executive–legislative synergy to uphold the rule of law, promote accountability, and ensure the State’s governance architecture remains robust and responsive to public needs. Governor Peter Mbah’s administration has fostered a uniquely harmonious relationship between the Executive and the State Assembly, transforming potential friction into productive collaboration. This robust symbiosis has enabled swift legislative endorsement of policy initiatives, ensuring the machinery of government operates smoothly and dividends of democracy reach all citizens without delay.
A comparative cost–benefit assessment clearly shows that in just two years, Governor Mbah’s partnership with the Legislature has yielded more enactments and oversight achievements than prior administrations. Over eighteen bills were presented within the first year alone, with fifteen passed into law, strengthening legal frameworks across sectors ranging from electricity and urban management to environmental protection. By aligning the Assembly’s oversight powers with the Executive’s development agenda, the administration has not only accelerated legislation but also deepened accountability, laying the foundation for enduring good governance in Enugu State. Since taking office in May 2023, Governor Peter Mbah has championed a collaborative ethos with the Enugu State House of Assembly, breaking from past inertia where nominee confirmations dragged on for months and assents to legislative proposals stalled amid acrimony. By realigning the budget cycle to the January–December financial year in line with Section 318 of the Nigerian Constitution, the administration has strengthened fiscal discipline and reinforced constitutional compliance, providing a stable framework for policy implementation.
The unity of purpose between the Executive and Legislature under Governor Mbah’s leadership underscores a commitment to good governance, ensuring that laws are passed promptly to meet the state’s development needs. Such laws include:
1. The Enugu State Electricity Law No. 1a, 2023
2. The Enugu State Supplementary Appropriation Law 2, 2023
3. The Enugu State Emergency Management Law No. 3, 2023
4. The Enugu State Security Trust Fund (Amendment) Law No. 4, 2023
5. The Enugu State Appropriation Law No. 5, 2023
6. The New Enugu City Management Agency Law No. 1, 2024
7. The Enugu State Geographic Information Systems Service Law No. 2, 2024
8. The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Law no. 3, 2024
9. The State University of Medical and Applied Science Teaching Hospital Igbo-Eno Law No. 4, 2024
10. The State University Of Science And Technology (Amendment No. 3) Law No. 5, 2024
11. The Enugu State Environmental And Climate Protection Law No. 7, 2024
12. The Public Ranch Management Agency Law No. 8, 2024
13. The Enugu State Sports Development Fund Law No. 9, 2024
14. The Enugu State Youth Development Fund Law No. 10, 2024
15. The Neighborhood Association and Watch Group Law No. 11, 2024
16. Local Government (Amendment) Law No. 12, 2024
17. 2024 Revised Appropriation Law
18. Enugu State Establishment Management Board for protection of State Own Social Homes Law
19. Local Government (Second Amendment) Law
20. The Enugu State Irrigation Water User Association Law
21. The Harmonized Retirement Age for Teacher’s Law
22. The Local Government (Third Amendment) Law
23. The Enugu State Appropriation Law 2025
24. The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (Establishment & Consolidation of Revenue Administration) Law
25. The Revised Edition (Law of Enugu State of Nigeria) Law
26. Enugu International Conference Centre Management Cooperation Law
27. The Enugu State College of Nursing Science Law
Above all these giant strides, the watchwords between the two arms, irrespective of party affiliations, must continue to include harmony, dialogue, interaction, interdependence, mutuality, respect, cooperation, understanding, engagement and communication. Antagonism, antipathy, animosity, and similar sentiments are already eschewed in the progress made thus far in Enugu State. This effort must however be consciously and actively consolidated and concretized and should not be taken for granted or treated with levity or passivity. Lines of communication must also be of essence between the respective committees of the Legislature and the Executive MDAS which are within the purview of those committees.
It is to be understood of course at all times that there is a fundamental line to be drawn between interdependency and ensuring that the purposes of independence are served. What is to be avoided is a knocking of heads for no reason other than political or personal expedience rather than for altruistic reasons, within the spirit and letter of the Constitution, for the greater good of Ndi Enugu. The Legislature, representing the 24 constituencies of the State, must be well alive to its oversight functions but in a manner that serves the purpose of constructive engagement critique and calling to order as envisaged by the Constitution with the deepest sense of patriotism.
The Executive on the other hand owes Ndi Enugu a paramount Constitutional duty to cooperate with the Legislature in the reasonable and legitimate exercise of its constitutional mandate. It cannot be emphasized enough that effective communication between the two arms of government is required to achieve the fundamental goal of democracy, which is good governance. Laws are made for that purpose and both arms must continue to bear same in mind in advancing the cause of an effective working relationship in the interest of our state and its citizens.
In conclusion it is important to note that there is no limit to how much the Executive and Legislature must strive to ensure, without compromising their independence, that the working relations between them are harmonious and progressive. Communication is key and while there is palpably life improved-communication as aforesaid in the current regime of Governor Peter Mbah like our democracy as whole, a work in progress, it must be nurtured and jealously guarded and managed actively with a view to smoothening out any crack that might arise in the journey towards a better polity to help us realize our tomorrow that is already here.
Hon. Paul Nnajiofor writes from Enugu
