Akwa Ibom inaugurates caretaker chiefs for councils

AKWA Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has inaugurated caretaker committee chairmen for the state’s 31 local councils with a charge for provision of social services during this short stint of theirs.

He particularly admonished the council chiefs to concentrate on the rehabilitation of rural roads, primary health care, primary education and rural electrification within the six-month they are holding forte.

Meanwhile, the state’s House Assembly has passed the Local Government Administration Amendment Bill 2015 into law to give vent to the dissolution of the councils.

Sponsored by the Deputy Leader and member representing Etinan constituency, Aniefiok Akpan and presented at plenary on Monday, the bill witnessed accelerated hearing and was subsequently passed it into law by all members present.
The legislation took retrospective effect from July 10, 2015.

Speaking at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, the governor urged commitment and disabusing of the stereotype that officials at the third tier of government were only found at work places once allocation was disbursed.

“Your tenure may not be long enough to embark on complete capital projects, but provision of social services such as rehabilitation of rural roads, primary health care, primary education and rural electrification are the least that would be expected of you.

“Your performance should go a long way to erase the widely held public perception that, council chairmen can be found in offices only when federal allocation comes, and after disbursement, they return to their bases in the state capital”, Emmanuel said.

The House had last weekend dissolved the 31 councils at the expiration of their terms on July 10.

Of the 31 sworn in, seven former chairmen made the list. They include Anthony Akan, Uruan; Kenneth Okon, Etinan; Etetim Awatim, Ini; Oman Esin, Oron; Henry Ekpenyong, Ibeno; Ephraim Akpan, Mkpat Enin and Ufot Akpan, Onna council areas respectively.

The governor reminded the appointees not to see their appointment as reward for political patronage; rather, they should know that they were occupying position of trust where the least should be to prove their capacities in leadership.

“Let me make it clear that our appointment is not a reward for your political investments. Rather it is a call to service. It offers you two opportunities. One, to prove yourselves competent to provide leadership, with the possibility of being called upon to serve in other or at higher levels, and two, to prove to your people that, you are worthy of public trust,” Emmanuel added.