Local government chairmen of the 25 councils in Delta State would henceforth embark on people oriented Infrastructural projects that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of their people, the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has said.

The governor warned that it would no longer be business as usual in the councils as the chairmen must hold security council meetings every month to appraise the security situation in their councils.

Oborevwori gave the directive on Monday July 14, 2024, while swearing-in the newly elected Chairmen and their Vice in Asaba, the state capital.

The governor said the era of council chairmen living in Asaba, Warri or elsewhere outside their locality only to come to the council at the end of the month to share allocation was over.

Hear him: “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.

“You must address the reoccurring issues of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and environmental decay in your local government areas .

“I employ you to have regular meetings with security agencies in your area of jurisdiction for the purpose of maintaining law and order.

“I say, not just that you will hold meetings at your discretion. No, every month you must hold security council meeting”, stressing that security is a shared responsibility and should be done through periodic town hall meetings in collaboration with security agencies to review the security situation for the purpose of keeping the various communities safe.

“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.

“It goes without saying that you need money to run a successful administration. Please, take note that your statutory allocation in the last three months is intact.

“I, therefore, expect you to hit the ground running by embarking on visible infrastructural projects that can be commissioned. Don’t think that because the money is there, you will do the usual way, it will not be possible.

“You must make sure that these monies are put into use. Let your administrations be characterised by modesty, fiscal discipline, prudent management, judicious allocation of resources, and excellent project delivery

“Your success on this job will also depend on your ability to work seamlessly with your Vice Chairmen, the legislative arm and other critical stakeholders in the local government area. Please, avoid running a one-man show.

“You must demonstrate the political sagacity to manage the local politics, and the administrative acumen to be all-inclusive to ensure peace, stability, and cohesion in your domains.”

“For you to be effective as local government council chairmen, it is imperative that you stay close to your people, you must shun the unhealthy practice of running your councils from Asaba, Warri or elsewhere only to show up at the end of the month when you have allocation, that will not be accepted .

“We won’t tolerate that because it will not be profitable to you and the people you lead.

“I want to reemphasize again, Chairmen, carry your Vice Chairmen along, carry your councilors along. Sit down and plan how you can run your councils. I know that you have the capacity, you have been elected by them, don’t disappoint the people because there is an other time”, Oborevwori, stressed.

Responding on behalf of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Council, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, expressed appreciation to the governor and leaders of the PDP in the state for the opportunity given to them to serve at the grassroots level of governance.

He commended the electorate in the various local government areas for endorsing their candidature through the electoral mandate given to them at the polls, and assured that they have adopted the MORE Agenda of the Governor and would not betray the confidence reposed in them.

The highpoint of the ceremony which was attended by the wife of the governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori; the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kingsley Esiso, and other top government functionaries, was the administration of oath of office on the chairmen and their deputies by the governor.