Abiodun urges council chairmen on quality governance

 Abiodun urges council chairmen on quality governance

 

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday urged the 20 newly-elected council chairmen to provide good governance for the people.

He advised them to understand the enormity of the responsibility last Saturday’s victory at the polls placed on their shoulders.

According to him, they should run an inclusive, transparent and accountable government.

The governor spoke at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Okemosan, Abeokuta after the chairmen and vice chairmen took their oath of office.

They were sworn in by the Chief Judge,  Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu.

Abiodun enjoined them to be creative in generating revenue, saying they should not rely on allocations from the Federal Government.

He, however, said that his administration would support the local governments with funds where and when necessary, as well as formulate policies and implement programmes that are people-friendly.

The governor urged the councils to replicate in their domains, the state’s people-friendly programmes, to further bring to fruition the successful implementation of the “Building our Future Together” agenda.

He said: “The local government is not just a tier of government stated in our country’s 1999 constitution, as amended; it is the closest to the people and much is expected from you. Therefore, your assumption of office must bring a new vista of development to our people at the grassroots.

“In doing this, you must be inclusive; you must be transparent; you must be accountable; you must be fair; you must be just; you must be equitable; you must obey the rule of law; you must provide good governance; you must be judicious.

“Above all, you cannot afford to turn yourselves to “Mr. or Mrs. I know it all.” A wise man once said: ‘Even though a ruler may be wise as a sage, he must humble himself and yield to others. Then the intelligent will offer him their counsel and the brave will exert themselves to the fullest for him’.

“You must also understand that you cannot rely exclusively on allocations from the Federal Government. You will have to be creative in generating funds internally, and incorporate the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model. But in doing this, you cannot afford to over-burden the people who are the essence and facilitators of your being in power.”

Abiodun said they should also take a cue from his approach at the state level by being cerebral, methodical and systemic, adding that they should ensure strategic allocation of funds.