Prioritize development, security – Gov Ododo urges LG chairman on swearing-in

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has officially sworn in the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the 21 local government areas across the state, emphasizing their responsibility to serve their communities effectively.

Ismaila Isah, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, announced the development in a statement issued on Monday from Lokoja.

The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Kogi State Government House, saw the governor advising the new officials to uphold and sustain developmental efforts at the grassroots level. He urged them to focus on projects and programmes that would enhance the quality of life for residents in their respective local government areas.

Governor Ododo further instructed the local government chairmen to prioritize the security of lives and property while aligning with the administration’s key initiatives in health, agriculture, social welfare, and empowerment programmes aimed at transforming their communities.

Ododo said, “There is a need for you to be transparent and accountable in running the affairs of the local government.

You must see your election as an opportunity to justify the autonomy of the local government administration by according priorities to matters that have a direct positive impact on the lives of the people at the grassroots.”

The governor, who described the local government as the most important tier of government and the closest to the people, also enjoined the new council chairmen to ensure that the people are carried along in all their activities and to promote the inclusion of all stakeholders in the decision-making process.

He noted that the local government administration should not only be seen but must be felt by the people in line with the policy of his administration to bring governance closer to the people.

In response, the chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Tosin Olokun, who spoke on behalf of the 21 local government chairmen gave assurance of their commitment to complement the efforts of the state government by embarking on projects and programmes that will transform the lives of the people at the grassroots.

He also promised to unite the people irrespective of political differences in line with the agenda of the state government under Governor Ododo to unite the people of the state and focus more on development.