Gov Obaseki To LG Chairmen: “LG Autonomy Not Licence For Recklessness”

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has reminded the newly inaugurated Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Secretaries, that they are accountable to the people despite the autonomy being enjoyed by councils.

He has, therefore, charged them to ensure inclusivity, accountability and transparency in the discharge of their duties.

The Governor gave the charge during a two-day onboarding programme for new local government council chairmen, in Benin City.

The governor, who declared open the programme at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Benin City, advised the council officials to prioritize developmental projects to positively impact and improve the lives of the people at the grassroots.

The governor said, “We are here to onboard our newly elected local government chairmen, vice-chairmen and secretaries to ensure they key into our policies and programme to deliver good governance to our people.

“We believe in the autonomy of local government because the constitution provides that local government should be autonomous.

“We should also insist on accountability and transparency to our people. You are autonomous but accountable because the resources at your disposal to undertake developmental works in your various local government areas belong to Edo people and should be accounted for.

“Our focus is to ensure that the resources we receive in Edo, either from federal allocation, taxes raised from our people or money borrowed are judiciously and properly utilized and accounted for.

“It’s a pitiable situation we experience in Nigeria where individuals elected or appointed suddenly begin to feel that the institution belongs to them and that they can do what they like as they are there to serve their families, themselves, friends and not the people.

“They sometimes feel they should not be accountable and anytime accountability is demanded or required of them, they see it as witch-hunting.

“In Edo, over the last seven years, we have made sure we run a government where the people feel they are included and heard and the government in place is there to serve them and it is expected that the same trickles down to the local government areas.

“Our government, whether State or local government, should be seen as inclusive, accommodating all shades of opinions. Whether you voted for us or not, all should be included in the decisions that we make.

“We have not focused on individuals but on policies that will touch the lives of the people as this has made them feel included in our government.

“The social well-being of our people is critical to us as they expect the government to do some things for them and we are focusing on the people rather than individuals. We have the responsibility as a government to take fundamental policies that will help in organizing society and development.”