Abia State local government Projects Inspection team led by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Gabriel Onyndilefu have expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the past transition committee chairman on projects implementation.
This was made known when the team visited the local government area to ascertain and evaluate the level of implementation of local government Projects.
According to the summary report presented by the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government Chief G.C Onyendilefu on behalf of his counterpart from Special Duties & Joint Projects, Chief J.J. Okoro, shortly after inspecting the projects executed by the past Transition Committee chairmen of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government, he said “We are dissatisfied with the performance of the past TC Chairmen,”
Both Commissioners, however, agreed that the immediate past Chairman Chief Ike Anyatonwu, performed well in human Capital development, having trained over 90 persons on Piggery farming and scores of youth on Solar Energy Technology.
Earlier in his welcome address, the TC chairman, Hon. Nkem Onwubiko, informed the Honorable Commissioners that he has spent barely 3 weeks in the local Govt hence he is not privy to most of the projects listed for inspection, he therefore opined that the Council head of service ,the Council Treasurer and the Head of Works department, will be in a better position to provide the information required on the visit.
While addressing the audience, made up of the TC chairman with some of his key staff as well as some royal fathers,on one hand, and the Commissioners for Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs, his counterpart for Special Duties / Joint projects, with their entourage, on the other hand, the Honorable Commissioner for Local Govt reiterated that their assignment to the Council headquarters was not to witch hunt anybody but to implement the directives of the Governor in ensuring that the electoral promises, made to the people, are fully implemented.
Chief Onyendilefu therefore solicited for the continued corporation of the Council chiefs and forthrightness of the Council key officers in providing the team with necessary information vital to their assignment.
Similarly, the Honorable Commissioner for Special Duties and Joint Projects enthused that the TC Chairman, when contacted earlier about the visit, showed remarkable enthusiasm exemplary of a dutiful public officer keenly poised to deliver service to his people. He commended his zeal and pledged their readiness to help him succeed.
Chief Okoro reminded the Local Govt Council members that the state Governor, as the chief servant of Abia State, was interested in knowing how much each Local Government has spent based on the total sum appropriated to it.
“The Executive Council of Abia State, led by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, is consistent in ensuring that probity and accountability is inculcated in the running of all the sectors of the State’s economy”.
On the inspection proper, the team affirmed that vehicles were indeed procured for key officers and for commercial purposes.
In the same vein Motor Cycles given to some deserving youths in order to enhance security of lives and properties within the domain. Other project outlays like the provision of office furniture for the Chairman’s office, training of some youths, on Piggery/ Poultry farming and Solar Energy, were also confirmed satisfactory.
However, claims of Rehabilitation/Renovation of the Council( Ururuka) hall was querried as the physical state of the building does not conform with the written claims.
The inspection team ,therefore ,instructed that the project be completed while details of the Bus transactions be submitted to the Ministry of Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs for scrutiny.
The inspection boss also decried the discrepancy in the reports presented by the Works department and the verbal reports from other key Council officers who were part of the previous LG administration.
Resulting from the irksome state of the Infrastructure within the Council, Chief J.J. Okoro took a swipe on the past leaders of the Council for negligence and impunity in running the affairs of the Council .
He encouraged the current TC boss to, do all within his means to, ensure that the Council is upgraded. Chief Onyendilefu, who hails from the Local Government, pledged his commitment in ensuring that, going forward, concerted effort will be made to uplift the squalor inherent in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Council.
Nonetheless, there abound great prospects for the Council given the amiableness and evident dexterity seen in the new TC Chairman, Honorable Nkem B. Onwubiko, and his youthful deputy, Barr. Prince Okpanku .
