Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has inaugurated the transition committees for the 31 local government areas of the state.
The tenure of the elected council officials including members of the legislative council expired last Wednesday after three years, as the state government sacked the elected councillors, some council chairmen and re-appointed some of them for a six-month period.
Speaking while inaugurating the LGA transition committees, which comprise the council chairman, vice chairman and secretary as well as supervisory councillors, Eno charged them to execute at least one development project that has direct bearing on the lives of their people during their tenure.
He said a Monitoring and Evaluation Team had been assembled to ensure that the projects were carried out across the 31 local government areas of the state.
The Governor gave the charge while inaugurating the newly appointed Local Government Council Transition Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Secretaries at the Banquet hall, Government House last Thursday.
“Now, back to the newly sworn-in Council Chairmen, I expect you to partner with us. You must, in the course of your stay in office, execute at least one laudable project that will touch and impact the lives of the people of your respective council areas.
“My Monitoring and Evaluation Team will be on ground to ensure that, this is done. We are determined and dedicated to ensuring that we bring development to our people, especially in the rural areas, in line with the Arise Agenda,” the Governor said.
While charging them to maintain peaceful coexistence among all manner of people, the Governor also charged them to reside in their local government council, adding that it is an indicatable offence for any one who contravenes the law.
“You are the Chief Security Officer in your respective Councils, you must ensure that you maintain peace and create harmonious relationship with your people.
“Let me state very clearly that you must reside in your respective Local Government Areas. You cannot administer your councils from another location. According to Section 78 of Akwa Local Government (Administration) Law 2017; ‘The principal Officers of the Local Government shall reside in their respective Local Government Councils. A contravention of this section shall be deemed to be a misconduct and as such an indictable offense.’ The definition of the Principal Officers is further explained in Section 83 of the same law. I encourage you all to get familiar with these sections,” he said.
The Governor, who also reminded them that adequate provisions had been made in the 2024 Budget for the conduct of Local Government Election after the expiration of the current transition period, warned that anyone not favoured by the zoning arrangements should not bother to context.
He said, “I want to emphasize emphatically that zoning must and will be maintained. I encourage and expect this, to be followed to the letter. If zoning does not favour you, please do not waste your time or resources to pursue an office; you will not get it. ”
