By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state has identified Local Government as the most effective arm of the government that should be exploited in fighting poverty, wealth creation and in turning around the fortunes of the country.
He stressed the need for measures to be put in place to proffer sustainable solutions to the myriads of problems in the country due to the difficulties being faced owing to paucity of resources, global economic recession, fall in international oil prices and in the case of Nigeria triggered by activities of vandals in the Niger Delta region.
Abubakar, who was addressing the newly appointed local government caretaker committee chairmen, maintained that when local government councils are optimal in dealing with core development issues, states and federal governments have less to do
The Governor, while observing that real African problems are rural based, and require solutions at the rural local levels, as he enumerated development issues to include security, poverty alleviation, mass mobilization and social infrastructural development.
The governor regretted that past administrations in the country have turned local governments to mere offices where people “only visit at the end of the month to collect salaries”.
He therefore charged the council chairmen to be vanguards of progressive change which necessitates development to emanate from the rural areas especially grassroots where the average voter is, citing agriculture as a veritable alternative to oil.
Governor Abubakar observed that power comes from God, but only uses others to give it whom he pleases, pointing out that all shades of opinion are reflected in the appointments of the caretaker committee chairmen in order to give all stakeholders sense of belonging.
He reminded the chairmen to ensure equity to all, using it as guiding principle in line with their oath of office, and charged them to improve the internally generated revenue of their council as government will use the revenue they generate in paying their salaries.
He revealed that the state government is making strategic adjustments on how to improve the internally generated revenue of the state without increasing tax, and directed all the council chairmen to reconstitute security committees and revitalize them in order to improve the peace and security being enjoyed in the state.
Responding on behalf of the council chiefs, the chairman of Bauchi Local Government, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar said the councils are now focusing attention on promoting good governance at the grassroots, and assured that they will help the governor to deliver on his electoral promises in line with the APC manifesto.
Alhaji Adamu Abubakar observed that with their appointment, people at the grassroots now have avenues to reach out to the government on how they want to be governed.
