DELTA STATE GOVERNOR SWEARS IN 25 COUNCIL CHAIRMEN 15-07-24
By Sadiq Aminu Twenty five newly elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen in Delta State have been sworn in for three years in office.
At the ceremony, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori congratulated them on their victory in last Saturday’s local government elections.
Governor Oborevwori tasked them to work for the development of their council areas by delivering the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots, and hold security meetings every month.
He hinted that the allocations for the councils for the last three months during which the affairs of the councils were handled by heads of personnel management, were in intact, and urged them to use the allocations judiciously to execute projects that would impact positively on the people.
Governor Oborevwori explained that it was necessary for the chairmen to stay close to the people by operating from their area headquarters and warned that they must shun the unhealthy practice of running the local governments from offshore, especially Asaba and Warri.
Governor Oborevwori, said: “To the elected Local Government Council Chairmen, I urge you to reciprocate the huge mandate that has been given to you by giving preference to the needs and aspirations of your people with a view to delivering good governance.
“You must discharge your duties with sincerity of purpose, impartiality, compassion, fairness, and justice and I expect you to work assiduously for the actualization of the MORE Agenda.
“As the third tier of government closest to the people, you need to improve the environmental sanitation in your communities. Our urban centres are riddled with filth as a result of improper waste disposal and poor sanitation habits of our people.
“I will like to see you step up in this regard by devising proper waste disposal measures, while embarking on aggressive public enlightenment campaign to educate our people on good sanitation habits.”
While describing the Supreme Court judgement on local government financial autonomy as a welcome development, the Delta State Governor restated that his administration does not temper with council allocations, saying that local government councils in the state were already enjoying financial autonomy.
Responding on behalf of the newly sworn in council chairmen, the Chairman of Oshimili North local government council, Innocent Esewezie gave an assurance that they would live up to expectations, and that they would not disappoint the people.
The newly elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen had earlier subscribed to the relevant oaths of office.