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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Abia council chief canvasses extension of tenure
ACOUNCIL chief in Abia State, Ndukwe Adindu, who assumed duty about two months ago for a two-year tenure, has canvassed for an extension of tenure of council officials to four years in line with that of other elected political office holders like lawmakers and governors.
Adindu also wants council chiefs to be allowed to determine the employment of staffers required in their council, unlike the existing practice where State Local Government Service Commission employed staffers for the councils without consulting them to know their needs.
Adindu, chairman of the Umuahia South Council, told The Guardian that two years would hardly be enough for council chairmen to implement their programmes fully.
The last House of Assembly, in which Adindu was the minority leader, had pegged council chairman's tenure to two years. However, Adindu said he would strive to do his best within the two years and leave his successor to continue fighting for extension.
Canvassing that council chairmen be allowed to employ the staff they need, or the commission doing so on request of chairmen, Adindu pointed out that it was the chairmen, who pay the new staffers so should be allowed a say in the employment.
The state governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, in a recent meeting with the councillors in the state, had said that their two-year tenure could be extended.
Adindu, who spoke after he inaugurated a 12-man peace and security committee for his council as directed by Kalu, said his council had so far planted 5000 pineapple suckers and procured two million cassava stems for planting and distributed medical equipment to five health centres among others.
On the need for a legislative block, he said that though the bill of quantity had been done on the basis that the contract would be awarded, he would build some with direct labour such that 40 per cent of the cost were saved.
Meanwhile, alleged acceptance of bribes and gratification by police personnel would not have been if members of the public did not induce them with such.
Commissioner of Abia State Police Command, Mr. Adanaya Gaya, who stated this in Umuahia last Friday, warned against the practice stressing that even bails do not attract a price.
According to Gaya, who spoke at his command's headquarters after 69 beneficiaries of the Police Motorcycle Loan Scheme were given motorcycles, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun, has been working hard to motivate and boost morale of officers and men by way of promotions, prompt payment of salaries and entitlements among others.
Gaya, who assumed duties recently, said that his command had also waded into the reported collection of N20 from motorists (Commercial) by police personnel on the highways.
In another development, the National Population Commissions Commissioner in charge of Abia State, Chief Chidi Ubani, last Friday, he reiterated that 2005 census exercise was not for tax purposes saying it was to enable effective planning for the good of all.
He gave the clarification in Umuahia at the flag off of the states 2005 census publicity and awareness seminar performed by Governor Kalu at Okpara Auditorium.
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