Akwa Ibom State governor, pastor Umo Eno, on Thursday, December 7 inaugurated Local Government Transition Council Chairmen, Vice chairmen and Secretaries in the state for a-six months tenure.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration at the Government house banquet hall, Uyo, the governor charged them to execute at least one developmental project that has direct impact on the lives of their people during their tenure.
He said that a Monitoring and Evaluation Team has been put in place to ensure that the projects were carried out across the 31 local government councils of the state.
Eno while charging them to maintain peaceful coexistence among their people, encouraged them to reside in their local government council, adding “it’s an indictable offence for any one who contravenes the law.”
He said, “Now back to the newly sworn-in Council Chairmen, I expect you to partner with us. You must, in the course of your stay in office, execute at least one laudable project that will touch and impact the lives of the people of your respective council areas.
“My Monitoring and Evaluation Team will be on ground to ensure that, this is done. We are determined and dedicated to ensuring that we bring development to our people, especially in the rural areas, in line with the Arise Agenda.
“Let me state very clearly that you must reside in your respective Local Government Areas. You cannot administer your councils from another location.
“According to Section 78 of Akwa Local Government (Administration) Law 2017; “The principal Officers of the Local Government shall reside in their respective Local Government Councils.
“A contravention of this section shall be deemed to be a misconduct and as such an indictable offence. The definition of the Principal Officers is further explained in Section 83 of the same law. I encourage you all to get familiar with these sections.”
The governor said that adequate provisions has been made in the 2024 Budget for the conduct of local government election, after the expiration of the current Transition period, warning that anyone not favoured by the zoning arrangements should not bother to context.
