Nasarawa State governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has sworn-in newly elected chairmen for the 13 local government councils of the state, charging them to imbibe the policy thrust of his administration demonstrated by accountability, transparency, probity and prudent management of funds.
Engineer Sule laid the charge at a colourful ceremony, which held at the late Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall, on Friday.
This is just as the governor directed the newly inaugurated council chairmen, to evolve means of increasing their internal revenue, so as to depend less on the monthly subvention from the Federal Government.
Engineer Sule specifically directed the chairmen to always liaise with the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, to evolve policies and programmes that will add value to the local council administration.
He equally charged them to liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture, with a view to assisting farmers towards maximizing production of crops, especially in areas where the state has comparative advantage.
While noting that, their emergence as elected council chairmen, was the reflection of the confidence the people have in them, the governor urged them to justify this trust by turning around the fortunes of their respective councils for the better.
Engineer Sule emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence across the state, adding that without peace all the efforts of his administration towards a prosperous Nasarawa State, will be in vain.
He further urged them to forge a common front by carrying along stakeholders, party and traditional institutions, as well as development areas, in order to attain overall development objectives of their various councils.
The governor used the opportunity of the event, to commend security agencies operating in the state, for ensuring peaceful conduct of the exercise, before, during and after the election.
He also commended the people of the state, for adhering to the rule of law in the process of the election.
The governor equally commended the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), for conducting of the relatively freest and fairest local government elections in the state.
He particularly extolled the sense of maturity demonstrated by the NASIEC, against the backdrop of criticisms that trailed the exercise, stressing that, it’s normal to have challenges while conducting elections.
The governor congratulated the newly elected chairmen, calling on them to also swear-in their elected councillors when they returned to their councils.
Engineer Sule then re-emphasised on the need for the people to adhere strictly to COVID-19 protocols, as the Delta variant of the pandemic is still ravaging the society.
Recall that the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) conducted the local government elections on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, following which candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were returned elected for the 13 local government councils and 147 councillors.
