Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri on Wednesday sworn-in the newly elected chairmen for the 21 local governments areas in the state, following their election and expiration of the tenure of the former council chairmen with a call on them to serve their people diligently.
Speaking at the event in Yola, shortly after the chairmen took oath of office and allegiance, Fintiri drew the attention of the newly elected chairmen to the sanctity of oath taking which he said was beyond empty rituals but a public commitments to their people as witnessed by God who would hold them responsible for their actions in office in the here after.
He noted that the successful conduct of local government elections in the state conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission ( ADSIEC) was a demonstration of his administration’s commitments to entrenching democratic culture rooted in the sanctity of election especially at the grassroots level.
He noted that as chairmen of their respective councils, they are the government at the grassroots hence the need to implement policies which are pro-poor and largely intended to change the lives of rural dwellers in their various communities.
The governor also urged them to be vanguard for stimulating devevelopment in their respective councils so that people can feels the impacts of governance.
Fintiri further tasked them to engaged the people regularly and work with traditional rulers, development areas administrators and other stakeholders in their various councils to ensure the reconstruction of trust and confidence on government.
Fintiri further warned them against abseeintism, corruption and mismanagement of public funds, saying that their doors must be wide open for their people to have access to them.
He added that under no circumstances should their people look for them and they are not there, saying they were not elected to work in Yola.