*Sets up monitoring team
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has inaugurated Local Government Council Transition Chairmen for a six-month tenure with a charge on them to execute at least one developmental project that has direct bearing on the lives of their people during their tenure.
Eno gave the charge during the inauguration of the newly appointed local government council transition chairmen, vice chairmen and secretaries at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo on Thursday
He said that a Monitoring and Evaluation Team has been put in place to ensure that the projects were carried out across the 31 local government areas of the state.
Eno who charged them to maintain peaceful coexistence among all manner of people, also charged them to reside in their local government council, adding that it is an indictable offence for any one who contravenes the law.
“You must, in the course of your stay in office, execute at least one laudable project that will touch and impact the lives of the people of your respective council areas.
“My Monitoring and Evaluation Team will be on ground to ensure that, this is done. We are determined and dedicated to ensuring that we bring development to our people, especially in the rural areas, in line with the Arise Agenda.
“You are the Chief Security Officer in your respective Councils, you must ensure that you maintain peace and create harmonious relationship with your people.
“Let me state very clearly that you must reside in your respective Local Government Areas. You cannot administer your councils from another location.
“According to Section 78 of Akwa Local Government (Administration) Law 2017; “The Principal Officers of the Local Government shall reside in their respective Local Government Councils.
“A contravention of this section shall be deemed to be a misconduct and as such an indictable offence. The definition of the Principal Officers is further explained in Section 83 of the same law. I encourage you all to get familiar with these sections,” Eno said.
The Governor, who said that adequate provisions has been made in the 2024 Budget for the conduct of local government election, after the expiration of the current Transition period, warned that anyone not favoured by the zoning arrangements should not bother to context.
He emphasized that zoning would be maintained to ensure fairness, equity and even development of the rural communities.
