Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State has mandated all local government chairmen in the state to submit their action plan within one month.
This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Alhaji Tajudeen Kareem, after an emergency meeting with all the 16 council chairmen with the governor in Ilorin.
Governor Saraki while pointing out the seeming inactivity at the local level, nonetheless, urged the chairmen to make their programmes known before the end of August.
Said he: “We have waited long enough trying to carry every one along, by September the State government will go ahead with its electrification project”. The governor, while disclosing plans to establish agro-processing cottage industries for cashew, casava and tomatoes in some local governments in the state, noted that the chairmen should utilise the opportunity to provide employment for farmers as well as youths in the area. Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Chief Afolabi Ogundeji has decried the nonchalant attitude of chairmen who failed to submit information on their cocoa-producing status; but he has urged them to act promptly.
Chief Ogundeji, however, tasked the council chairmen to see themselves as catalysts for development at the grassroots where majority of Nigerians reside stressing the need for them to act on time.
The Council Chairmen also presented their score card in office and highlighted problem areas where state government assistance is required. The Chairman of Baruten Local Government, Suleiman Alfa Seko, however, bemoaned the neglect suffered by the area in the past and the shortage of basic amenities such as water and electricity.
“I am in total support of joint financing of projects by state and local governments”, Alfa Seko said, arguing that his council can never source enough funds to construct its roads except through such co-operation.
Also speaking at the meeting were the Edu and Irepodun Local Government Chairmen, Alhaji Mohammed Dubba and Alhaji Abdukareem Adewumi who both urged the state government to tackle erosion problem in their councils.
The Chairman of Asa Local Government Area in Kwara state, Alhaji Ibrahim Sheu, however, expressed concern on the huge wage bill borne by the council adding that the council has no fewer than “a thousand workers on its payroll many of whom are jobless”.
Also present at the meeting was the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Bisi Oloruntoba and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Adelodun Ibrahim.
