Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has challenged the newly inaugurated chairmen of the state’s 20 local government councils to use their positions to improve the lives of residents and properly manage public resources.
Mohammed spoke on Tuesday at the Government House in Bauchi while swearing in the newly elected council chairmen.
The governor warned against the misuse of council funds, saying the financial autonomy of local governments came with a greater duty to deliver results at the grassroots.
He said, “You must not be tempted to misappropriate or divert local government funds. With financial autonomy now granted to local governments to run their affairs, you have no excuse for poor performance.”
Mohammed told the chairmen that their offices should not become platforms for personal enrichment, but should be used to address the needs of their communities.
He noted that residents expected more from the new council leaders because of their direct contact with people at the grassroots.
He said, “The position of local government is no longer a place where we go and share money. We go there to face challenges because the required human capacity, trust and confidence of the people must be built.”
The governor listed security, education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure among areas the chairmen should give priority.
He further encouraged them to maintain close relationships with traditional rulers, security agencies, women, youths and other community stakeholders to promote peace.
Mohammed said his administration had continued to invest in roads, healthcare, schools and agriculture across the state, urging the councils to complement the efforts at the local level.
On security, he directed the chairmen to convene regular meetings with security agencies and ensure that useful intelligence was promptly communicated.
He said, “I am expecting so much improvement in the security architecture. Make sure you hold security meetings with all the security agencies in your local council.”
The governor congratulated the new chairmen and advised them to commence work immediately, adding that their performance would be assessed by both the government and the people.
He also swore in six special advisers and urged them to remain committed to the administration’s agenda and ensure that government programmes positively impact communities.
The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission had announced that the Allied Peoples Movement secured all 20 chairmanship seats and 319 councillorship positions in Monday’s local government elections.
